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Exploring Programming Language Choices to Boost Student Interest in Coding and Educational Robotics

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Higher Education Learning Methodologies and Technologies Online (HELMeTO 2023)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 2076))

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Abstract

This research explores the impact of two widely used visual programming languages, VPL and Blockly, in educational robotics (ER) to enhance computational skills and address Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) gender disparities in K-12 education. To do so, an escape game was designed wherein children were tasked with programming a robot using either VPL or Blockly. The study gathered responses from 1635 children across 604 groups, primarily aged between 11 and 14. Statistical analysis revealed that girls tended to favour VPL more frequently than boys, while boys showed a preference for Blockly. Furthermore, participants with prior programming experience were more inclined to opt for Blockly, perceiving it as easier and more enjoyable. In sum, VPL emerged as the most utilized and preferred language, hailed for its ease of use and entertainment value compared to Blockly. These findings underscore VPL's appeal among K-12 students, particularly for girls and those lacking prior programming exposure and can be used to design learning activities and to train future teachers in ER.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento formazione e apprendimento, Laboratorio media e MINT, Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Locarno, Switzerland

    Lucio Negrini, Christian Giang & Masiar Babazadeh

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Umane, Università degli studi di Salerno, Filosofiche e della Formazione, Salerno, Italy

    Arianna Marras

Authors
  1. Lucio Negrini
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  2. Arianna Marras
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  3. Christian Giang
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  4. Masiar Babazadeh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucio Negrini .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Gabriella Casalino

  2. Pegaso University, Naples, Italy

    Raffaele Di Fuccio

  3. National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Educational Technology, Palermo, Italy

    Giovanni Fulantelli

  4. eCampus University, Novedrate, Como, Italy

    Paolo Raviolo

  5. Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Pier Cesare Rivoltella

  6. National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Educational Technology, Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Davide Taibi

  7. University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

    Giusi Antonia Toto

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Negrini, L., Marras, A., Giang, C., Babazadeh, M. (2024). Exploring Programming Language Choices to Boost Student Interest in Coding and Educational Robotics. In: Casalino, G., et al. Higher Education Learning Methodologies and Technologies Online. HELMeTO 2023. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2076. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67351-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67351-1_1

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