TY - GEN
T1 - The Pocketworld Playground
T2 - 22nd Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference: Rediscovering Childhood, IDC 2023
AU - Chen, John
AU - Zhao, Lexie
AU - Horn, Michael S.
AU - Wilensky, Uri J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).
PY - 2023/6/19
Y1 - 2023/6/19
N2 - Agent-based modeling (ABM) has become a major approach to promote computational thinking and complex systems thinking in K-12 education. However, agent-based programming (ABP), the computational foundation of ABM, is less defined and discussed in previous literature. Summarizing previous studies around ABP from computer science and education, we argued for the potential benefits of introducing ABP to youth. Rooted in the interest development theory, we presented the design of a scaffolded agent-based programming space, the Pocketworld Playground (POP), that aims to engage out-of-school online young learners through developing their interest in ABP. The POP was built in Turtle Universe (TU), the mobile incarnation of NetLogo. Using a mixed-methods approach to analyze log data and artifacts created by learners, we found that POP successfully engaged learners with ABP practices; helped develop situational and individual interest; and contributed to TU’s emerging online community. Finally, we discussed design lessons that could benefit other online learning designers.
AB - Agent-based modeling (ABM) has become a major approach to promote computational thinking and complex systems thinking in K-12 education. However, agent-based programming (ABP), the computational foundation of ABM, is less defined and discussed in previous literature. Summarizing previous studies around ABP from computer science and education, we argued for the potential benefits of introducing ABP to youth. Rooted in the interest development theory, we presented the design of a scaffolded agent-based programming space, the Pocketworld Playground (POP), that aims to engage out-of-school online young learners through developing their interest in ABP. The POP was built in Turtle Universe (TU), the mobile incarnation of NetLogo. Using a mixed-methods approach to analyze log data and artifacts created by learners, we found that POP successfully engaged learners with ABP practices; helped develop situational and individual interest; and contributed to TU’s emerging online community. Finally, we discussed design lessons that could benefit other online learning designers.
KW - Agent-based Programming
KW - Agent-based modeling
KW - Computational Literacy
KW - Constructionism
KW - Informal Learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169088036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85169088036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/3585088.3589357
DO - 10.1145/3585088.3589357
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85169088036
T3 - Proceedings of IDC 2023 - 22nd Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference: Rediscovering Childhood
SP - 267
EP - 277
BT - Proceedings of IDC 2023 - 22nd Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference
PB - Association for Computing Machinery, Inc
Y2 - 19 June 2023 through 22 June 2023
ER -