Combining Programming with Audio Explanations

Abstract

Increasing emphasis on programming in schools in Europe raises specific challenges. Many teachers enter the subject having limited competence and teaching experience in programming. This article reports on an exploratory study where students in one lower and three upper secondary schools learn programming. The students use a specific learning tool as their programming environment. The tool combines a code editor, an output window and audio recordings. The study investigated how the pupils could explain and expand on their program code in this environment. The qualitative study showed that all the students could present their code verbally using the facilities in the learning environment and that the upper secondary students were more elaborate, expanding on coding process and alternative solutions. The rich environment of the tool and the pedagogical structure in the project reported make programming a multidimensional activity, with promising learning opportunities.