You are here:

A 2D Physics Simulator as a Design Tool for a Children's Programming Environment
PROCEEDINGS

, The University of Auckland, New Zealand ; , University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom

EdMedia + Innovate Learning, in Honolulu, HI, USA ISBN 978-1-880094-73-0 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), Waynesville, NC

Full Text

Abstract

This paper describes a 2D physics simulator for children used to gather information for a new programming environment for children incorporating a 2D physics component. It was developed to examine how children interact with such a simulator and how easily they could use the simulator to construct different physical objects such as seesaws, cars and bridges. Two different studies were conducted with children playing with the simulator. In the first, groups of children of ages 6-7 and 9-10 briefly worked with the simulator. This showed a few minor problems but also showed that the older children quickly overcame these problems and could construct requested objects without difficulty. The second included a questionnaire asking 10 and 11 year old children what they would make with such a program and what they would like their created objects to do.

Citation

Sheehan, R. & Read, J. (2009). A 2D Physics Simulator as a Design Tool for a Children's Programming Environment. In G. Siemens & C. Fulford (Eds.), Proceedings of ED-MEDIA 2009--World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications (pp. 1647-1652). Honolulu, HI, USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved July 7, 2022 from .

© 2009 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

Keywords

References

View References & Citations Map
  1. Catto, E. (2005). Iterative Dynamics with Temporal Coherence. Paper presented at the Game Developers Conference 05, San Fransisco, CA, USA.
  2. Catto, E. (2007). Box2D Physics Engine.
  3. Ernerfeldt, E. (2008). Phun.
  4. Gomez, J.E., Venolia, D., van Dam, A., Fields, T., & Carey, R. (1994). Why is 3-D interaction so hard and what can we really do about it? Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 21st annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques.
  5. Ingalls, D., Kaehler, T., Maloney, J., Wallace, S., & Kay, A. (1997). Back to the future. The story of Squeak, a
  6. Kindborg, M., & McGee, K. (2005). Comic Strip Programs: Beyond Graphical Rewrite Rules. Paper presented at the International Workshop on Visual Languages and Computing (VLC2005), Canada.
  7. Lacoursière, C. (2003). Splitting Methods for Dry Frictional Contact Problems in Rigid Multibody Systems: Preliminary Performance Results. Paper presented at the The Annual SIGRAD Conference. Special Theme-Real-Time Simulations, Ume å University, Ume å , Sweden. Media_Molecule (2008). Little Big Planet: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
  8. Papert, S. (1980). Mindstorms: children, computers and powerful ideas. Brighton: Harvester.
  9. Purho, P. (2008). Crayon Physics Deluxe. Helsinki: Kloonigames.
  10. Schwarz, C. (1995). The Not-So-Simple Pendulum. Physics Teacher, 33.
  11. Sheehan, R.J. (2005). The Icicle Programming Environment for Children. Unpublished PhD, University of Auckland.

These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. Signed in users can suggest corrections to these mistakes.

Suggest Corrections to References