Ziva R. Hassenfeld|Madhu Govind|Laura de Ruiter|Marina Umaschi Bers
If You Can Program, You Can Write: Learning Introductory Programming Across Literacy Levels
Tufts University|Tufts University|Tufts University|Tufts University
aimpurpose paper presents findings curricular intervention aimed integrating computer programming reading writing early elementary school purpose research explore relation students varying literacy levels level success mastering introductory programming language methodology curricular intervention study implemented single school district southeastern virginia districts 33 elementary schools eight schools received external grant us department defense introduce computer science early elementary education standardized literacy test scores correlated internally developed age appropriate programming assessment scores n 132 second grade students contribution study first kind look students varying literacy levels succeed mastering introductory programming language introduced literacy lens findings findings indicated strong evidence weak positive correlation students literacy levels determined pals assessment programming mastery determined curricular programming assessments positive correlation suggests may indeed underlying constructs overlap literacy programming recommendations practitioners consider integrating computer programming foundational component literacy curriculum especially early grades two skill sets mutually support one another recommendation researchers additional research necessary using variety literacy programming measures continue understand relationship emerging literacy emerging computer programming skills impact society reimagining computer programming language significant implications teach programming schools students use programming workforce future research future work repeat curricular intervention younger students districts first grade kindergarten classrooms introducing programming coding literacy cal approach even earlier students literacy trajectories believe allow positive impact programming knowledge influence students literacy development next phase research agenda collect pre post literacy scores standardized internally developed see myriad ways programming knowledge impacts literacy