Pencil code: block code for a text world

David Bau, D. Anthony Bau, Matthew Dawson, C. Sydney Pickens

Abstract: Pencil Code is a block-based coding tool that helps beginners work with text-based web programming languages. It has been used to allow help first-time programmers of all ages create programs in JavaScript and CoffeeScript. Pencil Code allows students to toggle between text code and blocks freely. This approach allows students to transition smoothly from blocks to text as they become familiar with syntax. It also allows educators to create block vocabularies for specific lessons without working with an entirely new programming language.