Extending the design of a blocks-based Python environment to support complex types

Matthew Poole

doi:10.1109/BLOCKS.2017.8120400

Extending the design of a blocks-based Python environment to support complex types

Matthew Poole

School of Computing

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

431 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We are currently developing PyBlocks, a blocks-based environment which allows novice programmers to construct and execute Python programs. In the initial design of PyBlocks, Python's basic data types and lists are represented using colors, every expression block is colored according to its type, and each unfilled slot contains color indicating all valid argument types. In this paper we extend the design to include Python's most common built-in composite types (lists, tuples, dictionaries and sets) and to allow nesting of these where appropriate. Using example types from a pedagogical media computation library, we also show how further types may be supported. Together, these extensions provide almost any type novice Python programmers are likely to use.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of Blocks and Beyond 2
Subtitle of host publication	2nd Workshop on Lessons and Directions for First Programming Environments
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-5386-2480-7
ISBN (Print)	978-1-5386-2481-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/BLOCKS.2017.8120400
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2017
Event	Blocks and Beyond 2: 2nd Workshop on Lessons and Directions for First Programming Environments - Raleigh, United States Duration: 10 Oct 2017 → 10 Oct 2017 http://cs.wellesley.edu/~blocks-and-beyond/

Workshop

Workshop	Blocks and Beyond 2
Country/Territory	United States
City	Raleigh
Period	10/10/17 → 10/10/17
Internet address	http://cs.wellesley.edu/~blocks-and-beyond/

Keywords

blocks-based programming
introductory programming
Python

Access to Document

10.1109/BLOCKS.2017.8120400

pyblockspp
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Accepted author manuscript (Post-print), 275 KB

Design of a blocks-based environment for introductory programming in Python
Poole, M. J., 4 Jan 2016, 2015 IEEE Blocks and Beyond Workshop. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 4 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Open Access
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292 Downloads (Pure)

Cite this

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title = "Extending the design of a blocks-based Python environment to support complex types",

abstract = "We are currently developing PyBlocks, a blocks-based environment which allows novice programmers to construct and execute Python programs. In the initial design of PyBlocks, Python's basic data types and lists are represented using colors, every expression block is colored according to its type, and each unfilled slot contains color indicating all valid argument types. In this paper we extend the design to include Python's most common built-in composite types (lists, tuples, dictionaries and sets) and to allow nesting of these where appropriate. Using example types from a pedagogical media computation library, we also show how further types may be supported. Together, these extensions provide almost any type novice Python programmers are likely to use. ",

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url = "http://cs.wellesley.edu/\textasciitilde{}blocks-and-beyond/",

}

Poole, M 2017, Extending the design of a blocks-based Python environment to support complex types. in Proceedings of Blocks and Beyond 2: 2nd Workshop on Lessons and Directions for First Programming Environments. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., Blocks and Beyond 2, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, 10/10/17. https://doi.org/10.1109/BLOCKS.2017.8120400

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N2 - We are currently developing PyBlocks, a blocks-based environment which allows novice programmers to construct and execute Python programs. In the initial design of PyBlocks, Python's basic data types and lists are represented using colors, every expression block is colored according to its type, and each unfilled slot contains color indicating all valid argument types. In this paper we extend the design to include Python's most common built-in composite types (lists, tuples, dictionaries and sets) and to allow nesting of these where appropriate. Using example types from a pedagogical media computation library, we also show how further types may be supported. Together, these extensions provide almost any type novice Python programmers are likely to use.

AB - We are currently developing PyBlocks, a blocks-based environment which allows novice programmers to construct and execute Python programs. In the initial design of PyBlocks, Python's basic data types and lists are represented using colors, every expression block is colored according to its type, and each unfilled slot contains color indicating all valid argument types. In this paper we extend the design to include Python's most common built-in composite types (lists, tuples, dictionaries and sets) and to allow nesting of these where appropriate. Using example types from a pedagogical media computation library, we also show how further types may be supported. Together, these extensions provide almost any type novice Python programmers are likely to use.

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KW - introductory programming

KW - Python

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DO - 10.1109/BLOCKS.2017.8120400

M3 - Conference contribution

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PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

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ER -

Extending the design of a blocks-based Python environment to support complex types

Abstract

Workshop

Keywords

Access to Document

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Research output

Design of a blocks-based environment for introductory programming in Python

Cite this