Cleogo: collaborative and multi-metaphor programming for kids

Abstract

Cleogo is a novel groupware environment that allows several users to simultaneously develop programs through any mixture of three alternative programming metaphors: a direct manipulation language for programming by demonstration; an iconic language; and a standard text based language. Cleogo is motivated by the pedagogical values of peer learning and of collaborative problem solving, and by our desire to investigate flexible and appropriate user interfaces for programming, particularly for youthful users. Through its real time groupware facilities, Cleogo provides a shared conversational artifact around which students can talk, gesture and work on programming tasks. Its three concurrently active programming metaphors allow students to choose a method of program expression that best suits their task and skill level. Critical issues in the design and motivation of Cleogo are described.