The latest work on programming education and computational thinking (CT) has been published in a Scopus Q2 journal =).
This marks a milestone for the UMPSA STEM Lab team, as the journey behind this publication began several years ago with one simple motivation, which is to explore open-source platforms and methods that make programming more accessible and less intimidating for beginners.
Between 2020 and 2023, we designed and refined an instructional module using mBlock, an open-source, graphical programming tool. Our outreach program focused on the introductory level, specifically to address a common problem we see in schools: many beginners struggle with syntax when starting with textual programming, which often leads to frustration and loss of interest.
To make programming more approachable, two game-based learning modules were crafted, namely Snake and Pac-Man. Each activity began with students exploring the final product. They then applied computational thinking to break the game into smaller tasks (decomposition), identify patterns (abstraction), and plan their approach through flowcharts.
On the programming side, students first created or customised sprites to become familiar with the software—either on PC or online—before moving into block-based coding. This introduced them to core programming concepts such as iteration, conditionals, sequencing, and variables. By developing sprite movements, interactions, and game logic, students could see the immediate results of their coding decisions, helping them visualise and understand how each step contributes to the program.
We embedded tiered scaffolding throughout the learning process:
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Workout instruction – detailed, fully guided tasks.
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Debugging – fixing provided code with guidance.
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Semi-completed tasks – filling in missing code.
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Independent tasks – creating new features from scratch.
This structured approach proved effective, giving students a clear sense of completion and boosting their confidence as they progressed.
I would like to personally thank all the teachers, schoolchildren, and UMPSA STEM Lab mentors who contributed, not just by participating in our outreach programs but by helping us improve the instructional sets. This is the essence of what UMPSA STEM Lab strives for: bringing engineering to schoolchildren and constantly improving how we teach it.
We look forward to delivering more innovative engineering education initiatives within STEM, not just doing outreach, but nurturing talent for the future.