A noughts and crosses Java applet to teach programming to primary school children

We report on a continuing study into teaching programming to pre-teens school-children, with some as young as seven years old. As part of the study we aim to test childrens’ algorithmic understanding through their ability to solve puzzles and play games; and to turn this understanding into working code. We review a project in which children have programmed (in Java) AI players for the game of Noughts and Crosses. This code is then incorporated into a ‘programmable’ Java Applet for use as an educational tool in primary (junior) schools.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: PPPJ
• Authors: J. Paul Gibson
• Keywords: AI Players, Algorithmic Understanding, Java Applet, PPPJ 2003, Software Engineering