Coding Moves: Design-Based Research of Virtual Environment Interactions With Middle School Students

• In Event: Learning, Instruction, and Motivation in Computer Science Education

Abstract

In this paper, we present an approach for blending movement and computer programming as a way to support students in building computational thinking. We focus on one iteration of an ongoing design-based research project where students immersed in a learning environment, consisting of physical world and software-based lessons, program three-dimensional characters to perform alongside them. Results indicated that students’ understanding of computational concepts increased as well as their use of computational practices such as iteration and debugging. Further, a shift in their perceptions related to computing as a tool for expression and themselves as computational creators was observed.

Authors

• Shaundra Bryant Daily, University of Florida

• Alison E Leonard, Clemson University

• Nikeetha Dsouza, Clemson University

• Sabarish Babu, Clemson University

• Sophie Joerg, Clemson University

• Kara Gundersen, University of Florida

• Dhaval Parmar, Clemson University

• Xianshan Qu, Clemson University

• Lorraine Lin