{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.014623172103487065, 'fraction_numerical': 0.006749156355455568, 'mean_word_length': 5.4963503649635035, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Basic Code Understanding Challenges for Elementary School Children

We describe a research study aimed at understanding the basic code reasoning challenges of elementary school children. The research targets third to fifth grade African American students as a step towards making computer science accessible to all children. The study was conducted in a summer camp with 40 students and replicated with 20 new students the following summer. Also participating in the second summer camp were 19 returning students. For data collection, the study uses code-tracing activities involving concepts such as variables, assignments, operators, and sequencing. Performance data is automatically collected in the background as children engage in the activities incorporated in a video game and also through think-aloud sessions. Results include common code understanding challenges for all children.