Open AccessInvestigating the Transition from Block-based to Text-based Programming Techniques in Secondary Education in Greece
Author(s) -
Eleni Seralidou,
Christos Douligeris
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
european journal of engineering and technology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2736-576X
DOI - 10.24018/ejeng.2021.0.cie.2753
Subject(s) - computer science , block (permutation group theory) , exploit , popularity , transition (genetics) , informatics , mathematics education , multimedia , programming language , engineering , mathematics , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , geometry , computer security , electrical engineering , gene
Nowadays computer programming is an essential skill that has grown in popularity in secondary education. In its block-based form, it is used to familiarize students with the basic concepts of programming before the students move on to text-based programming languages. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transition from blocked-based to text-based programming techniques in secondary education. More specifically, four educational programming activities, which exploit the use of a block-based programming environment, were implemented in two classes of third grade Gymnasium students in Greece during the course of Informatics. The same educational activities were implemented again in the same classes with the use of a transitional block-to-text based programming environment aiming at normalizing the transition from block-based to text-based programming techniques. The implementation findings indicate a very positive feedback from the students’ side in understanding the association between block and text commands.