Tangible programming in the classroom: A practical approach

Michael S. Horn; Robert J K Jacob

doi:10.1145/1125451.1125621

Tangible programming in the classroom: A practical approach

Michael S. Horn^*, Robert J K Jacob

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Education and Social Policy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper introduces Quetzal, a tangible programming language for children to use in educational settings. Quetzal features inexpensive, durable parts with no embedded electronics or power supplies. Children create programs in offline settings-on their desks or on the floor-and carry their programs to a scanning station when they are ready to compile. We argue that a language like Quetzal could offer an appealing and practical alternative to conventional languages for introducing programming concepts in the classroom. This paper discusses the motivations for the Quetzal project and describes the design and implementation of the language. We also outline several key questions that are guiding our research with Quetzal.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	CHI'06 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA'06
Pages	869-874
Number of pages	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/1125451.1125621
State	Published - 2006
Event	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2006 - Montreal, QC, Canada Duration: Apr 22 2006 → Apr 27 2006

Publication series

Name	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

Other

Other	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2006
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Montreal, QC
Period	4/22/06 → 4/27/06

Keywords

Children
Education
Programming languages
Tangible UIs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Software
Human-Computer Interaction
Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

Access to Document

10.1145/1125451.1125621

Cite this

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title = "Tangible programming in the classroom: A practical approach",

abstract = "This paper introduces Quetzal, a tangible programming language for children to use in educational settings. Quetzal features inexpensive, durable parts with no embedded electronics or power supplies. Children create programs in offline settings-on their desks or on the floor-and carry their programs to a scanning station when they are ready to compile. We argue that a language like Quetzal could offer an appealing and practical alternative to conventional languages for introducing programming concepts in the classroom. This paper discusses the motivations for the Quetzal project and describes the design and implementation of the language. We also outline several key questions that are guiding our research with Quetzal.",

keywords = "Children, Education, Programming languages, Tangible UIs",

author = "Horn, {Michael S.} and Jacob, {Robert J K}",

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doi = "10.1145/1125451.1125621",

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series = "Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings",

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booktitle = "CHI'06 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA'06",

note = "Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2006 ; Conference date: 22-04-2006 Through 27-04-2006",

}

Horn, MS & Jacob, RJK 2006, Tangible programming in the classroom: A practical approach. in CHI'06 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA'06. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings, pp. 869-874, Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2006, Montreal, QC, Canada, 4/22/06. https://doi.org/10.1145/1125451.1125621

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AB - This paper introduces Quetzal, a tangible programming language for children to use in educational settings. Quetzal features inexpensive, durable parts with no embedded electronics or power supplies. Children create programs in offline settings-on their desks or on the floor-and carry their programs to a scanning station when they are ready to compile. We argue that a language like Quetzal could offer an appealing and practical alternative to conventional languages for introducing programming concepts in the classroom. This paper discusses the motivations for the Quetzal project and describes the design and implementation of the language. We also outline several key questions that are guiding our research with Quetzal.

KW - Children

KW - Education

KW - Programming languages

KW - Tangible UIs

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BT - CHI'06 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA'06

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ER -

Tangible programming in the classroom: A practical approach

Abstract

Publication series

Other

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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