A Visual Programming Language for Novices

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA218940 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Bridge Talk is presented a new approach to visual languages for novice programmers. The design of Bridge Talk is based on data about how novices learn to program. Bridge Talk allows novices to program with programming plans - - frame-like objects that capture essential program components like keep a running total and iterate down a data structure. Novices are focused on the interactions between plans, not on the implementation details for a particular plan. Beginning with plans as a basis for a novice programming language, we were forced to develop a programming formalism that can deal with multiple levels of detail, merged plan implementations, and interrelationships between plans. The actual visual presentation for the language is based on six design, implement, test with students, and redesign cycles. jhd

Author(s):
Bonar, Jeffrey G. ; Liffick, Blaise W.
Author Organization(s):
CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIV PITTSBURGH PA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT
Descriptive Note:
Technical rept.
Supplementary Note:
Prepared in cooperation with Pittsburgh Univ., PA. Learning Research and Development Center and Millersville Univ. Sponsored in part by Contract F41689-84-D-0002. DOI: 10.21236/ADA218940
Pagination:
0053

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
AIP-22
Contract/Grant Number(s):
N00014-86-K-0678, N00014-83-K-0655
Monitor Series:
ONR
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_8.2.2_Provide Aid to Foreign Partners and Institutions; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_4.6.1_General Engineering; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_1.2.6_Concepts; JCA_1.2.3_Educating; JCA_5.5.2_Task; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_5.2.2_Develop Knowledge and Situational Awareness; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_6.1_Information Transport
Modernization Areas:
AI and Machine Learning
Communities of Interest:
Energy and Power Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES, EDUCATION, VISION, PLANNING, DATA BASES, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
Field(s)/Group(s):
Computer Programming and Software
Keyword(s):
VISUAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
Report Date:
1987 Sep 29