A Survey of K-12 Teacher Needs for an Online Programming Learning System

Ally Limke, Marnie Hill, Veronica Cateté, Tiffany Barnes

Abstract: This article examines US K-12 computing teacher needs for a programming learning system. We surveyed 39 K-12 teachers about the necessity of programming learning system features. We found that teachers needed to view student code remotely, student code auto-save, differentiation of student assignments, and a tutorial library for students to learn about the programming environment. In addition to rating feature usefulness, we also asked teachers to list features or needs that the survey did not address. Through qualitative responses, we found that teachers wanted cheating prevention and detection, the ability to freeze and project code onto student screens, and student and classroom-level analytics. We also compare the needs of teachers who teach computing as the main subject in their classroom to the needs of teachers who integrate computing into another discipline. This research can inform the development of programming learning systems to better support teachers and their students.