Show HN: Pickcode – A graphical code editor for education

pickcode.io

10 points·csmeyer··4 comments

Context here: Pickcode is meant for high school students and is meant to serve as an intermediate step between block code (i.e. Scratch, App Inventor) and coding in Python/Javascript. As a high school teacher, I've noticed that block code is a bit too easy for students, but jumping right to Python is a bit rough and a lot of student time is wasted on syntax vs. building conceptual understanding. Simple command line programs you can build with basic Python skills aren't super engaging, and teaching how to use libraries like Pygame or making full web apps with HTML/CSS/JS is hard given the time constraints of a first semester course on programming.

this is interesting. why do you think this is better than just using python?

do you have any research with students that shows this is a “better mousetrap”?

My observation is that basic syntax errors (indentation, missing colons, etc) take up a ton of time for students and that this takes away from the real learning goals. I agree that there have been a ton of attempts to solve this problem so the onus is on me to demonstrate that there are better outcomes starting with Pickcode vs Python.

Pickcode roughly falls under the category of "frame based editor" and there has been some research that suggests it's a potentially useful approach.

Time will tell if it works! I think there's still quite a bit of work on the app before I can start conducting that research in a formal way.

this is interesting. why do you think this is better than just using python?

do you have any research with students that show this is a “better mousetrap”?

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