Mediated Transfer in Teaching Programming Using Visual Programming Languages

Abstract

Novice programmers find learning programming difficult and challenging. Such an opinion has a negative effect on motivation, and the problems that students face during their first learning attempts only reinforces their initial expectations. For this very reason, students tend to give up. The use of a simpler syntax and environment could be a possible solution for making the process of gaining first programming experience easier or for helping students to overcome their aversion to complex programming languages. It is very important to choose a programming language and a developing environment that are suitable to students’ age. In this paper, we provide a few examples of didactic tools used for teaching programming to students of different age and give insights into visual programming projects evaluation as well.