CODEX - Learning Object to Support Loop Structure Teaching

Abstract

According to the Code.org there are currently 528,174 open computing jobs in U.S. and only 49,291 computer science students graduated into the workforce, last year. In order to try to reverse this scenario, several countries are working on a way to include computer science concepts, like computational thinking, in their curriculums for K-12 education. In addition, many studies and researches are being done related to practices and tools that can be applied in order to retain students that applied for computer science courses. In order to contribute to these initiatives, this paper presents CODEX, an interactive and ludic learning object, that aims to help students that do not need to have a background in programming to learn one of the most important structure in a programming language, the loop. CODEX was designed to be used both in class and in extra-class activity.