Learning and Leading - Feburary 2013

Yes, Students Can Learn to Love Computer Programming

as a computer science and tech- nology teacher at Gracemount High School in Edinburgh, Scotland, I am always in search of the best tools to engage my students and help them grasp the value and relevance of programming.

Computer science courses tend to incorporate complex development languages, such as JavaScript, VB, and COMAL, which use commands and syntax that students find challenging to understand. When students are discouraged from pushing forward or frustrated on day one because of the programming language, it’s difficult to regain their attention and interest.

Not long ago, the computing staff at Gracemount learned about a development environment called LiveCode, created by an Edinburgh-based company named RunRev.

LiveCode is based on English with easy-to-understand syntax and without the complex symbols at the center of most computer languages. A modern descendent of natural-language technologies, such as Apple’s Hyper-Card, LiveCode requires 90% less code than the more traditional languages and can work across platforms so students can create applications for mobile devices, the web, PC, Mac, Linux, or a server.

Our faculty was eager to test LiveCode and found that although it compared to other languages, the code was far more intuitive. For example, if student developers want the word Hello to appear when they open the app they’re working on, they write the following in LiveCode:

put theText begins with “Hello”

To do the same in Javascript, a stu-
dent would have to write the following:

liveCode is based on english with easy-to-understand syntax and without the complex symbols at the center of most computer languages.

the Text.substring(0,“Hello”. length).match(“Hello”) !=null; “

Interest in Programming Grows

The computing department has seen firsthand how using the right development language and platform can bring programming back to life for high school students.

Immediately, I saw a marked change in student interest and enthusiasm for computer science and programming. Within two years, we doubled the size of the program. In fact, students responded so well to the initial LiveCode course that we have now incorporated the language into our standard grade, intermediate, higher, and advanced higher courses as mandatory parts of the curriculum. We have approximately 60 students in the 13–15 age group and around 40 at the higher level taking LiveCode courses.

We are also in the middle of develop-
ing courses for the new set of Scottish
National Qualifications under a Cur-
riculum for Excellence, and RunRev is
working closely with us to develop a set
of assessment and moderation materials
for educators who wish to teach their
students programming using LiveCode.

Building Apps Easier with LiveCode

When I introduced LiveCode to students in the classroom, they were instantly engaged and eager to learn. I no longer need to spend class time helping students decipher symbols or spot their mistakes in programming because LiveCode allows them to identify errors and make corrections as they work. The result is instant-gratification programming, a concept students are eager to experience.