Visual Programming Language Research Articles

Improving the decision-making for sustainable demolition waste management by combining a BIM-based life cycle sustainability assessment framework and hybrid MCDA approach.

Increasing efforts have been devoted to promoting sustainable demolition waste management (DWM) from a life cycle-thinking perspective. To this end, facilitating sustainability-oriented decision-making for DWM planning requires a sustainability assessment framework for assessing multifaceted criteria. This study develops a building information modelling (BIM)-based DWM sustainability assessment approach to facilitate the life cycle assessment (LCA) and decision-making by coupling the enriched Industry Foundation Classes model with hybrid multi-criteria decision-aiding (MCDA) methods using Dynamo visual scripting. To streamline the data-intensive LCA process, this study enriched the BIM properties and accommodated them into the LCA data template to enhance data interoperability, thus achieving seamless data transfer. Moreover, hybrid MCDA methods are integrated into the decision-making workflow for DWM scenario ranking. A pilot study is employed to verify the applicability of the decision-aiding framework. The results unveil that the sustainability score ascended with the recycling rate. The optimal DWM alternative with the highest recycling rate yields the highest sustainability score at 91.63. Conversely, a DWM alternative reflecting the 'status quo' in China's recycling industry has the lowest score at 8.37, significantly lower than the baseline scenario with a 50% recycling rate. It is worth noting that the 'growth curve' of the sustainability score continuously flattens as the target recycling rate escalates. The increment in recycling rate from the 'Australian standard' scenario to the optimal scenario is 18.4%, whereas the sustainability score merely increases by 2.3%, signalling that the former scenario arrived at an optimum point for maximising the cost-efficiency of DWM under the predefined framework and contexts.

A BIM-integrated Thailand building energy code framework for building envelope thermal requirements in a conceptual design stage

This work presents the development of a building energy code (BEC) of Thailand compliance framework during conceptual design stages (CDS) using building information modeling (BIM) through visual programming language (VPL). The proposed method included five steps: (i) establish a commercial building reference; (ii) develop a BIM base model; (iii) create a BIM overall thermal transfer value (OTTV) and roof thermal transfer value (RTTV) calculation model with VPL scripts; (iv) test the BIM framework with various scenarios; and (v) verify the results with Thailand BEC software. The findings revealed an insignificant difference between the results from the BIM calculation model and those estimated by the Thailand BEC software. This study demonstrated that using BIM with VPL for OTTV and RTTV calculations during the CDS may be implemented automatically, which could help designers make timely decisions to comply with Thailand’s BEC, considering building design, materials, and fenestration ratios.

Enhancing Algorithmic Thinking Skills through Phygital Games: The Case of Space Codyssey

This paper presents an educational phygital game, Space Codyssey, aiming at cultivating the algorithmic thinking skills of young children. Space Codyssey is a phygital game, and its contains programming activities for the Sequence, Repetition, and Selection Structures, as well as Code Debugging activities (Debugging). The game utilizes Augmented Reality technology to present missions via QR cards. Additionally, digital storytelling is used as a means of assistance and teaching for preschool and early primary students. In the game, reading skills are not a prerequisite, and programming is accomplished using symbolic commands through a "Visual Programming Language." The participatory design methodology that was adopted, involving 28 educators from various specialties, reflects a holistic approach to the development of educational technologies. This interdisciplinary collaboration allowed for the integration of diverse pedagogical perspectives, ensuring that the game meets the multifaceted needs of modern education. The paper highlights the educational goals and learning outcomes for the designtated age group. It presents the scenario, the subject, the elements of the game, the rules, and the game mechanics. It also describes the implementation stages and the development of the application. Finally, it presents the results from a study, which involved 28 educators and aimed to improve the game before its use in educational settings.

Super Encryption Feal Algorithm and Base64 Algorithm Image File Security

In the rapidly advancing digital era, image file security has become a critical issue, especially with the increasing risks of data breaches and attacks on digital files. This study aims to enhance the security of image files by implementing a combination of two cryptographic algorithms: Fast Data Encipherment Algorithm- 4 (FEAL-4) and Base64. FEAL-4 is a symmetric encryption algorithm known for its high speed and processing efficiency, while Base64 is used for encoding binary data into ASCII format to ensure safer transmission. This research develops a super encryption system that integrates these two algorithms to protect the integrity and confidentiality of image files, particularly for BMP, JPEG, and PNG formats. The implementation was carried out using the Visual Basic programming language. The results of the study show that the combination of FEAL-4 and Base64 algorithms significantly enhances the security of image files, with a high success rate in the encryption and decryption processes.

A comparison of reserved graph grammar and edge-based graph grammar

Abstract Context-sensitive graph grammars are natural formalisms for the generation and parsing of visual programming languages. Being intuitive, rigorous, and expressive tools, they have been frequently employed in a wide range of research fields. Nevertheless, the expressive powers of the existing context-sensitive formalisms have not been investigated yet. To this end, this paper is dedicated to the comparison of expressive powers of the two prevalent graph grammar formalisms, Reserved Graph Grammar (RGG) and Edge-based Graph Grammar (EGG). By introducing a special variant of RGG as an intermediary, the relation between them concerning the expressive power is revealed that the set of graph languages of EGG is a proper subset of that of RGG. Moreover, bidirectional transformations between EGG and the variant of RGG are accordingly established, allowing them to take the advantages of each other in applications.

Exploring Debugging Challenges and Strategies Using Structural Topic Model: A Comparative Analysis of High and Low-Performing Students

Debugging is essential for identifying and rectifying errors in programming, yet time constraints and students’ trivialization of errors often hinder progress. This study examines differences in debugging challenges and strategies among students with varying computational thinking (CT) competencies using weekly coding journals from an online undergraduate CT course. Participants used Scratch, a block-based programming language, and their journals from five assignments were analyzed using Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency and Structural Topic Modeling. High-performing students engaged with diverse topics and specific blocks tied to their weekly projects while low-performing students faced repetitive and broad challenges, such as understanding motion blocks and broadcast concepts. These patterns reveal that low-performing students struggle particularly during the ‘diagnose the fault’ phase of debugging, often hindering their progress in the final stage. Such challenges highlight the necessity for targeted educational interventions to improve the debugging proficiency and overall CT skills. The study underscores the importance of further research into students’ logical thinking processes during code review and debugging, suggesting the use of think-aloud protocols and detailed tracking of debugging practices for deeper insights. This research contributes to the field by showing that differentiated instruction and strategic support can enhance debugging skills across different student performance levels.

The implementation of STE(A)M education through Scratch projects

Abstract The present research is motivated by the necessity of introducing modern methodologies corresponding to the study’s content into the educational process. The work aims to use Scratch projects for the organization of students’ educational activities, as well as for their creative self-realization. Authors realize STE(A)M-approach in the educational activity by facilities of Scratch-projects. The high-level block-based visual programming language could be an auxiliary technology for a teacher and an independent developing tool for students. The research revealed the main themes that became the basis for the development of the author’s course “Creative Self-Fulfilment in Scratch”. This contributes to the development of students’ creativity. The content of the course is extended with projects in algebra, geometry, physics and musical culture. Each of these projects demonstrates the unity of technology and creativity.

Modelling School Zone Border as Rich Modelling Problem for Secondary School Students

This article explores the potential of using the school zoning problem in Indonesia as a vehicle for teaching mathematical modeling to secondary school students. This problem is highly suitable for students as a modeling challenge because it is (i) contextual, (ii) rich, (iii) challenging, and (iv) within students' Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). School zoning involves a concept called Voronoi, essentially a partitioning problem. For simpler or special-case problems, these partitions can be created using concepts already taught in secondary schools, such as perpendicular bisectors and radical axes. However, for more complex problems with multiple sites, an algorithm is required, which involves advanced mathematical concepts beyond the typical secondary curriculum. Yet, with the rise of visual programming languages like Scratch, Snap!, StarLogo, and TurboWarp, it becomes possible to tackle these partitioning challenges using coding and only basic mathematical principles. This approach not only enhances students' understanding of foundational mathematical concepts but also fosters the integration of computational thinking and coding within mathematics. In summary, the school zoning problem serves as an ideal topic for mathematical modeling for secondary school students, promoting the integration of mathematical concepts, computational thinking, and coding skills. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-05-019 Full Text: PDF

Integrated Framework for the Implementation of Visual Programming Language in Science Experiment for Secondary School

Integrated Framework for the Implementation of Visual Programming Language in Science Experiment for Secondary School

PBLGM Model Through Visual Programming Language (VPL) for Digital Competencies and Problem-Solving Skills

PBLGM Model Through Visual Programming Language (VPL) for Digital Competencies and Problem-Solving Skills

Generating Sonic Phantoms with Quadratic Difference Tone Spectrum Synthesis

Abstract Quadratic difference tones belong to a family of perceptual phenomena that arise from the neuromechanics of the auditory system in response to particular physical properties of sound. Long deployed as “ghost” or “phantom” tones by sound artists, improvisers, and computer musicians, in this article we address an entirely new topic: How to create a quadratic difference tone spectrum (QDTS) in which a target fundamental and harmonic overtone series are specified and in which the complex tone necessary to evoke it is synthesized. We propose a numerical algorithm that solves the problem of how to synthesize a QDTS for a target distribution of amplitudes. The algorithm aims to find a solution that matches the desired spectrum as closely as possible for an arbitrary number of target harmonics. Results from experiments using different parameter settings and target distributions show that the algorithm is effective in the majority of cases, with at least 99% of the cases being solvable in real time. An external object for the visual programming language Max is described. We discuss musical and perceptual considerations for using the external, and we describe a range of audio examples that demonstrate the synthesis of QDTSs across different cases. As we show, the method makes possible the matching of QDTSs to particular instrumental timbres with surprising efficiency. Also included is a discussion of a musical work by composer Marcin Pietruszewski that makes use of QDTS synthesis.

A Digital Tool Supporting Pathology Practice and Identifying Leucocytes.

The aim of this work is to deliver an all-in-one package that contains both the part where the pathologist can manipulate the data as well as predefined models, altogether with the digital pathology interface with a comprehensive component that provides traceability between the identified leucocytes and the underlying possible outcomes of the potential disease. The aim is to directly provide the number of leucocytes and the mass of the cell, only from the image, with minimal intervention from the pathologist, necessary to have a PoC (Proof of Concept) or a prototype. The model was trained on a dataset of around 20,000 models, and the achieved accuracy was approximately 85%. Approximately 82% of the identified areas of interest, as determined by the models, were true positive predictions. The models correctly identified approximately 89% of the actual positive instances - areas of interest - identified by the pathologist. Approximately 6% of the total actual negative instances were incorrectly classified as positive by the models. The tool provides visual scripting, reducing the learning curve for pathology analysis techniques and offers an intuitive interface for healthcare professionals.

Lógica de programação através da robótica: Uso do Scratch e Arduino para criação de robôs e projetos interativos

This article investigates the teaching of programming logic through robotics, using Scratch and Arduino for the creation of robots and interactive projects. Through a literature review, we examine the advantages and challenges of this approach, highlighting how the integration of visual programming tools and hardware can enrich student learning. The integration of Scratch and Arduino in education emerges as an innovative approach to teaching programming logic. Scratch, a visual programming language, and Arduino, an open-source electronics platform, provide students with a dynamic and interactive learning environment. Through hands-on projects and real-time feedback, students can explore abstract concepts in a tangible way, enhancing their understanding and knowledge retention. Despite the challenges, such as teacher training and the availability of resources, the benefits of using Scratch and Arduino outweigh the difficulties, providing students with engaging and meaningful learning experiences. This article reviews the literature on the use of Scratch and Arduino in education, highlighting their contributions to programming education and project-based learning. The results indicate that the use of Scratch and Arduino promotes a dynamic and engaging learning environment, facilitating the understanding of programming and electronics concepts. Future research should focus on strategies to improve teacher education and expand access to these tools, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to develop essential digital literacy skills. By empowering students to become creators and innovators, Scratch and Arduino pave the way for a future where technology is not only understood, but is also actively shaped and utilized for positive change.

Improving the Decision-Making for Sustainable Demolition Waste Management by Combining a Building Information Modelling-Based Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Framework and Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Aiding Approach

Increasing efforts have been devoted to promoting sustainable demolition waste management (DWM) from a life cycle thinking perspective. To this end, facilitating sustainability-oriented decision-making for DWM planning requires a sustainability assessment framework for assessing the trade-offs among multifaceted criteria. This study develops a BIM-based DWM sustainability assessment approach to facilitate the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) and decision-making by integrating LCSA-related properties and hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Aiding (MCDA) methods into a BIM environment using Dynamo visual scripting. A dynamic linkage is developed in the streamlined BIM-based LCSA process, where the enriched Industry Foundation Class (IFC) models are coupled with custom LCSA data templates to achieve seamless data exchange between the BIM platform and external LCA tools. Subsequently, hybrid MCDA methods convert the assessment results into DWM scenario ranking. A pilot study verifies the applicability of the BIM-based framework. The results unveil that the sustainability score ascended with the recycling rate. The optimal DWM alternative with the highest recycling rate yields the highest sustainability score at 91.63. Conversely, a DWM alternative reflecting the ‘status quo’ in China’s recycling industry has the lowest score at 8.37, significantly lower than the baseline scenario with a 50% recycling rate. It is worth noting that the ‘growth curve’ of the sustainability score continuously flattens as the target recycling rate escalates. The increment in recycling rate from the “Australian standard” scenario to the optimal scenario is 18.4%, whereas the sustainability score merely increases by 2.3%, implying that the former scenario arrived at an optimum point for maximising the cost-efficiency of DWM under the predefined settings.

Enhancing programming learning performance through a Jigsaw collaborative learning method in a metaverse virtual space

BackgroundComputational thinking (CT) is crucial to fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Many elementary schools have been cultivating students’ CT through block-based programming languages such as Scratch using traditional teacher-centered teaching methods. However, the approach excessively relies on teacher lectures, so the teacher’s teaching load is hefty, and most students cannot receive timely assistance from teachers, thus reducing students’ programming learning performance, interest, and confidence. Therefore, this study designs a Jigsaw collaborative learning method implemented in a metaverse virtual space (JCLM-MVS) for peer-to-peer Scratch programming learning to promote learners’ programming learning performance, CT, and learning attitudes. This study used a quasi-experimental research method, with 48 fifth-grade students from two classes in Taiwan’s elementary school as the research participants. One class of 24 students was randomly assigned to the experimental group using JCLM-MVS to conduct Scratch programming learning, whereas the other class of 24 students was assigned to the control group using the traditional teacher-centered teaching method.Main findingsThe study found that the experimental group of learners showed significantly better Scratch programming learning performance and attitude than the control group, and there was no statistically significant difference in CT between both groups, but both learning approaches effectively promoted CT. Additionally, the interview results showed that most interviewees stated that using JCLM-MVS for Scratch programming learning could receive timely assistance from peers, make collaborative learning more efficient and learning more enjoyable, and more intend to use JCLM-MVS for Scratch programming learning than using traditional teacher-centered teaching method due to the effective collaborative interaction mechanisms and realistic learning space provided in the metaverse virtual space.Conclusions/potential implicationsThis study presents a novel and engaging learning approach by integrating a metaverse virtual space with the Jigsaw collaborative learning method, referred to as JCLM-MVS, which enhances the effectiveness of the Jigsaw collaborative learning method in promoting Scratch programming learning performance, CT, and attitudes.

The Effects of Designing Scientific Experiments with Visual Programming Language on Learning Outcomes

AbstractWhen the studies on the effectiveness of visual programming language are examined, it is seen that studies on coding teaching have been carried out frequently recently. In this study, Scratch was used as a teaching tool in teaching science lessons. In this way, a new perspective has been brought to Scratch applications. In the related study, the effects of designing science experiments with visual programming language (Scratch) on students’ beliefs of self-efficacy related to computational thinking (CT) skills, metacognitive awareness levels, and motivation levels for science learning are examined. This study was carried out using a single-group research design based on pretest and posttest applications. Students attending the fifth grade participated in this study. Sixty-five students attending the fifth grade participated in the research. Research data were obtained using “Self-Efficacy Perception Scale for CT Skills (SEP_CTS),” “Metacognitive Awareness Scale (MAS),” and “Motivation Scale for Science Learning (MSSL).” The research process is 10 weeks and 3 days in total. It was determined that designing science experiments in visual programming language applications based on Scratch improved students’ CT self-efficacy perceptions, but did not have the expected effect on students’ science learning motivation and metacognitive awareness. This research provides evidence that some skills can be improved by using Scratch as a teaching tool in different courses. With the focus of research on this subject, it can contributed to the development of new understandings of Scratch in teaching processes.

Geneapp: A web application for visualizing alternative splicing for biomedicine

Alternative Splicing (AS) is an essential mechanism for eukaryotes. However, the consequences of deleting a single exon can be dramatic for the organism and can lead to cancer in humans. Additionally, alternative 5′ and 3′ splice sites, which define the boundaries of exons, also play key roles to human disorders. Therefore, Investigating AS events is crucial for understanding the molecular basis of human diseases and developing therapeutic strategies. Workflow for AS event analysis can be sampling followed by data analysis with bioinformatics to identify the different AS events in the control and case samples, data visualization for curation, and selection of relevant targets for experimental validation. The raw output of the analysis software does not favor the inspection of events by bioinformaticians requiring custom scripts for data visualization. In this work, we propose the Geneapp application with three modules: GeneappScript, GeneappServer, and GeneappExplorer. GeneappScript is a wrapper that assists in identifying AS in samples compared in two different approaches, while GeneappServer integrates data from AS analysis already performed by the user. In GeneappExplorer, the user visualizes the previous dataset by exploring AS events in genes with functional annotation. This targeted screens that Geneapp allows to perform helps in the identification of targets for experimental validation to confirm the hypotheses under study. The Geneapp is freely available for non-commercial use at https://geneapp.net to advance research on AS for bioinformatics.

IMPLEMENTASI APLIKASI MULTIMEDIA DAN PENGOLAHAN DATA LAYANAN PADA KANTOR URUSAN AGAMA KECAMATAN PASAR JAMBI

Pasar Jambi District Religious Affairs Office, Jambi City, Jambi Province. The function of the Pasar Jambi District Religious Affairs Office is to carry out marriage registration, reconciliation, mosque construction, zakat, endowments and other social services. This research is to build a Multimedia Application Service for the Pasar Jambi District Religious Affairs Office. The Service Multimedia Application is a comprehensive overview of marriage registration which includes information, registration, announcements, services, facilities and infrastructure as a back-up for the Pasar District KUA Service Multimedia Application. Therefore, profile and service data must be available, complete and accountable. Through thesis activities, Nurdin Hamzah University tried to create a multimedia service application at KUA Pasar which is located in Jambi Province in an effort to create a Multimedia Application for Wedding Services at KUA Pasar Jambi. Based on the identification of the problem, therefore, the objectives of this thesis research activity are: 1) create a profile of the KUA Pasar and 2) a Multimedia Application for Wedding Services that can be accessed computerized and programmed using the Visual Studio Code programming language, MySQL database, XAMPP, Capcut and Medibang Paint. The requirements for the KUA Service Multimedia Application System are: 1) The input required in creating the system is service video data, 2) The processes required for creating the system are the main page process, the history page process, the structure page process, and the vision and mission page process and 3) The output required is a video of KUA services.

ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ BBC MICRO:BIT ДЛЯ НАВЧАННЯ ПРОГРАМУВАННЮ

Considers the use of the BBC Microbit educational microcomputer to introduce the basics of programming to pupils and students in non-technical majors. The paper presents a comparison of the use of single-board computers. The available visual programming environment, as well as a large number of input and output devices on a single-board computer board, makes it much easier to interact with the environment. It is noted that the board can be programmed using visual block programming language, javascript or using Python. If you wish, you can load other systems into Micro:bit, for example, mbed OS and write in C++, but these are already opportunities for students of initial courses of technical specialties. It was determined that the board has an ARM Cortex-M0 processor, 256KB Flash ROM, 16KB RAM, 16MHz clock frequency. There is also BTLE support, a 2.4GHz peer-to-peer transmitter (101 channels), an accelerometer, a compass, a thermometer, and a line of GPIO pins. Even if there is no fee, there is a full-fledged simulator right in the browser, in which you can test all the functions of the program. Ready-made "blocks" are available to the student with many different functions: from simple input-output to sound reproduction or machine control. The board can be programmed using visual block programming language, javascript or Python. The Python programming language has a very simple, but simple editor, and the student can write the code independently. The work shows that the BBC Microbit microcomputer allows to simplify the process of learning program algorithms through the use of a visual programming environment. And the use of functional extensions with the use of third-party modules provides additional opportunities for creating powerful software applications.

Professional Development in Computational Thinking: A Systematic Literature Review

This paper presents a systematic literature review of professional development programs in computational thinking (CT). CT has emerged as an essential set of skills that everyone should develop to participate in a global society. However, there were no pre-service or in-service teacher programs to integrate CT into the K–12 classrooms until very recently. Thus, it is important to identify how educators and researchers address the challenges to prepare the next generation of students and what gaps persist in the current literature. We review existing work in this field from two perspectives: First, we analyze the learning outcomes, assessment methods, pedagogical approaches, and pedagogical tools used in the professional development programs in CT. Second, we examine how these programs assess the teachers’ knowledge and skills as outcomes. We used the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework to characterize existing literature and identify possible gaps in the preparation of pre-service and in-service teachers in CT. Our results suggest that (1) existing evidence is limited to developed countries; (2) many studies are only focusing on teachers understanding the concepts but do not explore how the participants evaluate or create learning activities; (3) no studies look into classroom observations as part of the program, which limits our understanding to how these programs work; and (4) most programs use block-based programming languages as the tool to develop student CT. While block-based programming languages are used for introductory training programs, students are often expected to transfer their learning to more professional programming languages.