Situating Programming Abstractions in a Constructionist Video Game

• Published in: Informatics in education Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 307 - 321
• Main Authors: Weintrop, David, Wilensky, Uri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vilnius Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla 01.01.2014; Vilnius University Press; Institute of Mathematics and Informatics; Vilnius University Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences; Vilnius University
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition. Intelligence; College Students; Computer & video games; Computer programming; Computer science; Computer Science Education; Computer science; control theory; systems; Concept Formation; Construction; constructionist video games; Constructivism (Learning); Education; Educational Environment; Educational Technology; Electronic & video games; Essay|Book Review |Scientific Life; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; High School Students; Informatics; Introductory Courses; Learning Experience; Learning Processes; Mental imagery. Mental representation; Novices; Occupational training. Personnel. Work management; Programming; Programming Languages; Protocol Analysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Readers; Science Education; situated abstractions; Video Games; webbing; situated abstractions; computer science; constructionist video games; webbing; programming; Constructive theory; Instruments; Attitude; Programming environment; Abstraction; Computer games; Teaching; Learning; Video game; Programming language; Complex programming

Research on the effectiveness of introductory programming environments often relies on post-test measures and attitudinal surveys to support its claims; but such instruments lack the ability to identify any explanatory mechanisms that can account for the results. This paper reports on a study design...