中学生に対する５パズルを用いたプログラミング教育方法の開発

抄録

In Japan as well as the UK and USA, teaching programming has come into the spotlight in both the primary and secondary education sectors. One of its important tasks is the development of methods for teaching programming to pupils and students who have not studied it systematically. We developed a teaching method by which junior high school students can learn computer programming, using a 5-puzzle solution algorithm based on a three-dimensional state-transition diagram that forms a two-layered truncated icosahedron. The 5-puzzle is a 2×3 or 3×2 sliding block puzzle that allows players to slide five pieces. To test the method effectively, we devised a learning material in which one can play 5-puzzle on a browser. One learning session has five problems that get more difficult gradually as learners solve them so that they can understand the solution algorithm step by step by tracing it in the opposite direction. Learners are expected to eventually solve the most difficult problem. We introduced the teaching method into two lessons of three classes with a hundred and fourteen third-graders. The result showed that the lessons greatly contributed to get them interested in computer programming and helped them understand more about the algorithms.