Teaching Novices Programming Using a Robot Simulator: Case Study Protocol

This protocol provides details of a case study design that will investigate the use of simulated robots as introductory programming teaching tools. This research is motivated by the results of a Systematic Literature Review which indicated that such work would be valuable. The protocol will help to ensur e that a reliable, transparent and rigorous study is performed. Furthermore, potential problems have been considered and accounted for in advance of its implementation. The protocol may also act as a point of reference for other researchers interested in performing a case study. In this paper a protocol for a planned case study is presented. Case studies are empirical strategies for research which involve an investigation of a phenomenon using several sources of evi dence. This case study will investigate the use of simula ted robots as introductory programming teaching tools. The research has been influenced by the results of a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) which indicated that such work would be valuable. A range of participants will be involved in the case study including novice programmers and trainee high school teachers. Data collected during the study will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a robot simulator, and associated workshop, which have been developed to support the learning of introductory programming. This research aims to contribute to knowledge by addressing the findings of the SLR. Moreover, this is the first case study to examine the implementation of a robot simulator in such a context.