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Guidelines for Introducing Learners to Computer Programming in a Developing Country

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ICT Education (SACLA 2022)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1664))

Abstract

The South African government has committed to the implementation of coding and robotics teaching in primary schools. This vision faces the challenge that 16,000 schools in the country do not have computer laboratories, and that most teachers are not trained to teach coding. To address this reality, the TANKS mobile app was developed at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. It introduces introductory coding concepts without the need for a computer. The scope of the project has broadened since its initiation in 2017. Originally learners were introduced to the game, and each received a game pack. Currently coding kits with various additional resources are made available to schools, mostly after teachers are trained. Based on the evolvement of the project, generic guidelines for the introduction of computer programming in schools, are provided as the main contribution. These guidelines identify the tools to be used here, how to make the project financially sustainable, alternative methods to traditional teaching, as well as the role of training for this kind of coding instruction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computing Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    Jean H. Greyling

Authors
  1. Jean H. Greyling
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Correspondence to Jean H. Greyling .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Richard J. Barnett

  2. Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Daniel B. le Roux

  3. Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Douglas A. Parry

  4. Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Bruce W. Watson

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Greyling, J.H. (2022). Guidelines for Introducing Learners to Computer Programming in a Developing Country. In: Barnett, R.J., le Roux, D.B., Parry, D.A., Watson, B.W. (eds) ICT Education. SACLA 2022. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1664. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21076-1_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21076-1_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-21075-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-21076-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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