Date
Publisher
arXiv
Programming has become an essential component of K-12 education and serves as a pathway for developing computational thinking skills. Given the complexity of programming and the advanced skills it requires, previous research has introduced user-friendly tools to support young learners. However, our interviews with six programming educators revealed that current tools often fail to reflect classroom learning objectives, offer flexible, high-quality guidance, and foster student creativity. This highlights the need for more adaptive and reflective tools. Therefore, we introduced MindScratch, a multimodal generative AI (GAI) powered visual programming support tool. MindScratch aims to balance structured classroom activities with free programming creation, supporting students in completing creative programming projects based on teacher-set learning objectives while also providing programming scaffolding. Our user study results indicate that, compared to the baseline, MindScratch more effectively helps students achieve high-quality projects aligned with learning objectives. It also enhances students' computational thinking skills and creative thinking. Overall, we believe that GAI-driven educational tools like MindScratch offer students a focused and engaging learning experience.
Study at a glance
- Question: Can a generative AI visual programming tool support students' programming projects, computational thinking, and creativity?
- Setting and data: Six programming educators, and students in a user study.
- Method: Educator interviews and a comparative user study evaluating the tool against a baseline.
Why it matters
Programming is an essential component of K-12 education, but current tools often fail to reflect classroom learning objectives, offer flexible, high-quality guidance, and foster student creativity. More adaptive and reflective tools are needed for young learners.
Key findings
- In visual programming, an AI support tool more effectively helped students create high-quality projects aligned with learning objectives than a baseline tool.
- The generative AI tool enhanced students' computational thinking and creative thinking skills during visual programming.
- Six programming educators reported that existing coding tools often fail to support learning objectives, offer flexible guidance, or foster student creativity.
Summary drafted with AI from the paper’s abstract and may contain errors. See the full paper for details.
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