da Vinci Junior is an iPad application that allows children (aged 6-8) to learn the concepts behind programming by interacting with animated videos. Instead of passively watching video, children viewing a show on a tablet will learn the concepts of programming through a series of brief challenges that appear throughout the animated video. Each challenge isolates an image from the preceding video and requires the child to make a manipulation that will be reflected in the next screens of the video. For example, in the submitted version of the application, users watch a video about two dogs who go to the park and are saddened by rainy weather; in the challenge, the user is asked to make the weather sunny through two programming challenges to change the color of an object and to change the background of an image. Once the user has completed the programming challenge, the story line adapts to reflect this. By the end of the video, the child will have built a fully modified image and completed a coherent lesson.
Our application shows children different ways that programming can be used through entertaining media to which they are already accustomed. We then use simplified drag and drop commands and attributes to allow the user to make modifications and then show them an underlying “code” which is closer to a recognized programming language. We do not aim to teach any specific programming language, and instead focus on demonstrating the use-case for programming as well as the general underlying logic. Based on our market research and academic studies, we believe that making programming approachable is a critical first step in generating interest for further pursuing studies in programming.