Abstract
This article describes a unique ongoing experience of learning programming via engagement in music programming of known melodies. Seventh and eighth graders participated in 10 lessons of weekly activity. Via the programming of melodies, using the Scratch 2.0 environment, they became acquainted with basic concepts of programming such as methods, variables, repetition and control commands, parallel processes, and more. The study was conducted in the form of an action research. The study units were designed in the spirit of the spiral learning method, in which the learning concepts are revisited several times while their level of complexity rises. From the data analyzed so far, four categories emerged: enjoyment, interest, gaining programming knowledge, and experiencing feelings of success. The students were enthusiastic during the learning lessons, and they were curious to learn and use advanced concepts. The music programming provided them with practical meaning for the learned programming structures and concepts.
Highlights
There is broad agreement that in order to prepare future generations to make the most of technological developments, we should introduce the teaching of programming to early grades of elementary school and even to preschool learning (Papadakis et al, 2016)
The music programming provided them with practical meaning for the learned programming structures and concepts
Analytic thinking and creativity are needed during the process of looking for an algorithm that solves a given problem (White & Sivitanides, 2002)
Summary
There is broad agreement that in order to prepare future generations to make the most of technological developments, we should introduce the teaching of programming to early grades of elementary school and even to preschool learning (Papadakis et al, 2016). The topic is taught on a basic level, followed by several rounds such that in each round more complexity of the topic is added, reinforcing principles that were previously discussed This teaching method enables the establishment and solidification of the learning topic thoroughly.
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