Effects of GUI-based Programming Learning before CUI-based Programming Learning: Toward Continuous Learning in Computer Programming

Abstract

With the recent development of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), information technology in society has made remarkable progress. Along with this, in Japan, programming has already been a mandatory subject in junior high school and it has been decided to make programming a mandatory subject in elementary school. We have studied the effects of robot control using a GUI-based programming environment (Scratch) as an introductory education to programming, and a positive effect was confirmed. However in order to perform continuous programming learning, we need to move from GUI-based to CUI-based programming education. In these years, we have been testing out the transition education from GUI-based to CUI-based of programming for first-year university students. From these results, prior GUI-based learning has been confirmed to have a positive effect for students' comprehension of subsequent CUI-based learning in a continuous programming learning.