Pytch: A Bridge from Block to Text programming
Year Awarded
2021
Amount
€42,519
- Organisation:Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
- Audience:Transition Year Students, Post Primary Teachers - Junior Cycle, Post Primary Teachers - Senior Cycle
- Location:Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow, national
- Topic:Technology
Project Summary
The Pytch project aims to improve takeup of Computer Science(CS) in Ireland by smoothing the transition from ‘beginner’ programming environments to the mainstream tools used in later years and in industry. It will do this through the development of a new environment which brings a familiar Scratch-style programming model to the Python language.
Beginner-oriented block-based programming environments, in particular Scratch[8,13], are popular for introducing learners to computing, and are widely used in both formal and informal settings[11,15]. There is considerable evidence [5,7,13] that students suffer a significant drop-off in engagement and confidence in their programming ability in the transition to text-based tools such as Python.
Pytch will support learners at this crucial stage, where they often turn from viewing coding and CS as a fun, creative activity to seeing it as a drier and more difficult ‘subject’. Learners will be able to continue using much of what they have learned through successful introductions to programming with Scratch as they move on to programming in Python. Pytch will achieve this by: (1) providing a browser-based environment that supports writing engaging multimedia content in Python, (2) retaining the Scratch programming model of Sprites and events so learners need not immediately learn an entirely new programming paradigm, and (3) providing a complete online environment, including tutorials, and other supports.
Existing providers of CS education such as CoderDojo, schools teaching CS, and third level institutions will all be leveraged to access learners. Training of key participants will be undertaken to ensure successful implementation.