Programming Education

Programming education — the teaching and learning of computer programming, from introductory block-based programming to advanced software development. In the AI era, programming education increasingly incorporates computational thinking, AI-assisted tools, and embodied approaches (such as robots) to help learners connect abstract code to meaningful, observable outcomes. It spans K 12 and Higher Ed, formal and informal settings, and ranges from text-based languages (Python, Scratch) to block-based visual programming.

Programming education is closely related to Computational Thinking (the underlying problem-solving concepts) and CS Education (the broader computer science discipline). A key challenge in the AI era is that learners and teachers struggle to connect abstract program logic to meaningful outcomes, and that AI tools can both assist and potentially undermine genuine learning. Embodied and game-based approaches — using robots, block programming, and simulation — are increasingly used to ground programming in concrete, motivating tasks.

How programming education appears in the wiki's research

Embodied block programming: RoboBlockly Studio combines block-based programming with a conversational AI teaching agent and embodied robot execution, creating an iterative authoring–running–observing–revising loop that preserves learner agency.

Natural-language robot control: EduSim-LLM lets beginners control simulated robots through natural-language instructions, lowering the barrier to robot programming.

Robotics and computational thinking: Valls i Pou links computational thinking to educational robotics in secondary STEAM curricula.

Game-based and gamified learning: A systematic review compares game-based learning and gamification in robotics education, which emphasizes introductory programming and modular kits.

Project-based robotics: Bots and Blocks teaches robotics programming through an agile, semester-spanning project.

Programming education connects to Educational Robotics, Computational Thinking, CS Education, STEM Education, AI-assisted programming, Game Based Learning, Gamification, Project Based Learning, and Embodied Learning.