How to create emotional learning companions to teach programming in Primary Education?

Abstract

The interest to teach programming in Primary Education has increased in the last years. Many approaches are being under research such as using Scratch, robots, or unplugged approaches so that more students can program at an early age increases their academic performance, as well as their motivation and satisfaction levels. In our previous work, we have proposed the use of emotional learning companions to teach programming in Primary Education. The results registered for the use of companions have been significant both in the improvement of the programming skill as well as the motivation and satisfaction levels of the students. In this paper, it is proposed a methodology to create emotional learning companions to teach programming in Primary Education. This methodology has been validated with the creation of Alcody, which has been used by 137 10–12 years-old students during the 2019/2020 academic year with a significant increase of their programming skill of input/output, conditional, and loops concepts, and more than 90% of satisfaction both in the face-to-face and on-line teaching modes. These results support the possibility of creating more learning companions that can extend the benefits achieved to a greater number of Primary Education students.