Programming music with Sonic Pi promotes positive attitudes for beginners

• Published in: Computers and education Vol. 179; p. 104409
• Main Author: Petrie, Christopher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Applications in subject areas; Improving classroom teaching; Interdisciplinary projects; Applications in subject areas; Interdisciplinary projects; Improving classroom teaching
• ISSN: 0360-1315; 1873-782X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104409

Programming is often misaligned with beginner students' interests and viewed as difficult. However, most students and teachers are not aware that it is possible to utilise domain-specific programming languages that combine programming with other domains like music making. Sonic Pi is one free domain-specific programming platform that enables beginners to code music, which has been designed for and used in schools since its first release in 2012. However, there is a lack of academic research on the Sonic Pi platform about the extent it may affect beginner student attitudes towards programming in a school context. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent Sonic Pi may help to promote positive attitudes towards programming. A mixed-methods case study was developed and trialled in school time with a middle school class, which measured student attitudes with the three subscales of enjoyment, importance, and anxiety. Overall, the results confirmed an alternative hypothesis that all students’ subscales for programming attitude increased significantly. While these findings are not generalisable due to its limited scope, they are very positive to inform the design and use of platforms like Sonic Pi in comparison to similar music coding platforms like EarSketch and TunePad. •Sonic Pi may help to promote more positive attitudes towards programming.•A mixed-methods case study was developed and trialled in school time at a middle school classroom.•The results indicated all students' subscales for programming attitude increased.•The importance and anxiety subscales yielded the largest effect sizes.•Sonic Pi may be one effective way to promote positive programming attitudes for middle school students.