A noughts and crosses Java applet to teach programming to primary school children

摘要

We report on a continuing study into teaching programming to pre-teens school-children, with some as young as seven years old. As part of the study we aim to test childrens' algorithmic understanding through their ability to solve puzzles and play games; and to turn this understanding into working code. We review a project in which children have programmed (in Java) AI players for the game of Noughts and Crosses. This code is then incorporated into a 'programmable' Java Applet for use as an educational tool in primary (junior) schools.