Teaching Programming Using Cultural Viewpoint Metaphors Resignification

Abstract

Technologies permeate contemporary society, and the ability to use computer science concepts in the problem-solving process is essential to everyone. This paper presents an epistemic tool of Semiotic Engineering whose meaning is resignified to the context of teaching programming to initial learners. Aiming to help these students absorb programming concepts, a gradual form of presentation using the interaction with a new system as a journey through a new culture, based on the Cultural Viewpoint Metaphors theory, was structured. After that, an application of this resignification was adopted in an introductory programming workshop using visual programming and the BBC Micro:bit embedded device. Results from the workshop revealed that this gradual form of introduction could help novices in the programming concepts learning process, showing the potential of this approach in teaching programming.