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A Computer Game To Teach Programming.

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Title: A Computer Game To Teach Programming.
Language: English
Authors: Kahn, Ken
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 1999
Document Type: Reports - Evaluative
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Descriptors: Authoring Aids (Programming), Children, Computer Assisted Instruction, Computer Games, Computer Simulation, Computer Software Development, Educational Games, Elementary Education, Instructional Effectiveness, Microworlds, Problem Solving, Programming, Puzzles
Geographic Terms: U.S.; California
Abstract: ToonTalk is an animated interactive world inside of which one can construct a very large range of computer programs. These programs are not constructed by typing text or arranging icons, but by taking actions in this world. Robots can be trained, birds can be given messages to deliver, and so on. This paper describes the design and preliminary testing of an interactive puzzle game that functions as a ToonTalk tutorial. Children are presented with a series of interactive puzzles in a game-like narrative context. The puzzles gradually introduce programming constructs and techniques. Each puzzle presents the player with a very limited selection of ToonTalk objects. Even some very young children are able to solve the puzzles because the search space is so strongly constrained, and yet players do not behave as if the puzzles are too easy--the children are clearly challenged. The sequence of puzzles is carefully designed to gradually introduce new concepts, one at a time. Testing has shown that both children and adults enjoy the puzzles and have learned some sophisticated programming skills. (Contains 11 figures and 7 references.) (Author/AEF)
Notes: In: Spotlight on the Future, NECC '99. National Educational Computing Conference Proceedings (20th, Atlantic City, NJ, June 22-24, 1999); see IR 019 708. Figures may not reproduce clearly.
Journal Code: RIEJAN2000
Entry Date: 2000
Accession Number: ED432990
Database: ERIC
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  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED432990
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PubType: Report
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  Label: Title
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  Data: A Computer Game To Teach Programming.
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  Label: Language
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kahn%2C+Ken%22">Kahn, Ken</searchLink>
– Name: PeerReviewed
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  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 10
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1999
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Evaluative<br />Speeches/Meeting Papers
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Authoring+Aids+%28Programming%29%22">Authoring Aids (Programming)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Assisted+Instruction%22">Computer Assisted Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Games%22">Computer Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Simulation%22">Computer Simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Software+Development%22">Computer Software Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Games%22">Educational Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microworlds%22">Microworlds</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Solving%22">Problem Solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Programming%22">Programming</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Puzzles%22">Puzzles</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22U%2ES%2E%3B+California%22">U.S.; California</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: ToonTalk is an animated interactive world inside of which one can construct a very large range of computer programs. These programs are not constructed by typing text or arranging icons, but by taking actions in this world. Robots can be trained, birds can be given messages to deliver, and so on. This paper describes the design and preliminary testing of an interactive puzzle game that functions as a ToonTalk tutorial. Children are presented with a series of interactive puzzles in a game-like narrative context. The puzzles gradually introduce programming constructs and techniques. Each puzzle presents the player with a very limited selection of ToonTalk objects. Even some very young children are able to solve the puzzles because the search space is so strongly constrained, and yet players do not behave as if the puzzles are too easy--the children are clearly challenged. The sequence of puzzles is carefully designed to gradually introduce new concepts, one at a time. Testing has shown that both children and adults enjoy the puzzles and have learned some sophisticated programming skills. (Contains 11 figures and 7 references.) (Author/AEF)
– Name: Note
  Label: Notes
  Group: Note
  Data: In: Spotlight on the Future, NECC '99. National Educational Computing Conference Proceedings (20th, Atlantic City, NJ, June 22-24, 1999); see IR 019 708. Figures may not reproduce clearly.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Authoring Aids (Programming)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Assisted Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Games
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Software Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Games
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microworlds
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Programming
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Puzzles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: U.S.; California
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Computer Game To Teach Programming.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Kahn, Ken
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Type: published
              Y: 1999
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