Pencil Code is an educational programming language and website. It allows programming using Scratch-style block coding or CoffeeScript.[1][2] Code runs directly in the web browser and can be shared with others. The language centers on a model of a pencil programmatically drawing on a 2-dimensional screen, with the pencil cursor visually depicted as a turtle.

A 2019 study by Deng et al. in an eight-week teaching intervention comparing text-based and block-based environments found that students learning in a mixed environment had improved confidence and computational thinking.[3]

History

Pencil Code was created by David Bau and his son in 2013. It was inspired by Logo, the 1967 programming language for drawing on a screen using a Lisp-like programming language.[4] Google has funded improvements to Pencil Code via Google Summer of Code projects.[5]

References

  1. ^ Bau, David; Bau, D. Anthony; Dawson, Mathew; Pickens, C. Sydney (2015-06-21). "Pencil code: Block code for a text world". Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children. ACM. pp. 445–448. doi:10.1145/2771839.2771875. ISBN 978-1-4503-3590-4.
  2. ^ Edwards, Luke (2023-06-29). "What is Pencil Code and How Can It Be Used for Teaching? Tips & Tricks". TechLearningMagazine. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  3. ^ Deng, Wenbo; Pi, Zhongling; Lei, Weina; Zhou, Qingguo; Zhang, Wenlan (2019-10-17). "Pencil Code improves learners' computational thinking and computer learning attitude". Computer Applications in Engineering Education. 28 (1): 90–104. doi:10.1002/cae.22177. ISSN 1061-3773.
  4. ^ Bau, David (2013). Pencil Code : a programming primer (Second ed.). David Bau. ISBN 978-1-4943-4744-4. OCLC 900971005.
  5. ^ "Google Summer of Code wrap-up post: Pencil Code". Google Open Source Blog. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  • Pencil Code official website
  • Common Sense Education page