Dr. Wagon: a 'stretchable' toolkit for tangible computer programming

Authors:
Kunal Chawla;Megan Chiou;Alfredo Sandes;Paulo Blikstein
Affiliations:
Stanford University, Stanford, California;Stanford University, Stanford, California;Stanford University, Stanford, California;Stanford University, Stanford, California
Venue:
Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children
Year:
2013

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Abstract

Programming can be a challenging activity for young children. While there are numerous programming environments for children, relatively few of these environments take advantage of tangible interfaces. Research suggests that using tangible tools, such as physical blocks, can engage students to explore introductory programming concepts more easily than equivalent virtual programming environments. Dr. Wagon is a tangible programming toy that includes a series of programming blocks and a wagon-shaped robot. The programming blocks include basic functions ("move"), conditions ("if" statements), and loops ("repeat"). These blocks can be connected in various ways to control the behavior of the wagon. In this paper, we discuss our various design choices while creating Dr. Wagon, and shed light on the technical, cognitive, and usability details of the project.