Leveraging the Benefits of Physical Computing in a Beginner-Focused Programming Environment

Abstract

The availability of affordable and varied physical computing devices designed for hobbyists and students has led to an increased interest in studying how these devices may be used to enhance computer science education, with a particular focus on engaging female students. This dissertation explores how a physical computing device may be incorporated into an existing educational programming environment, leveraging many of the reported benefits of such devices while addressing some of the identified deficits and expanding the activities and projects feasible to deliver in a classroom environment with inexperienced users. Support was implemented for an affordable device with various features used in many schools, the BBC micro:bit, into the Pytch programming environment, which targets inexperienced users transitioning to text-based programming. The approach was evaluated through two interventions conducted with Irish secondary school students, suggesting benefits to this approach in line with previous studies on physical devices. The dissertation also explores potential options for further development and evaluation of the approach taken in order to improve and better understand its effects.