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Improving Students' Python Programming Abilities: An Instructional Method Based on Gap-Filling Flowchart Scaffolding

In the future, it is expected that the demand for people with programming abilities will increase. Programming has become an ability that everyone needs to have, and it is also a part of the global basic curriculum. However, programming is difficult for junior high school students, so more study is needed to solve this problem. This study proposes programming learning methods based on the scaffolding theory based on different flowchart scaffoldings (gap-filling flowchart scaffolding, multiple-choice flowchart scaffolding) to cultivate students' programming abilities. Therefore, a Python course was designed and implemented in a middle school to explore the influence of students' programming abilities. During the 6-week teaching practice, a total of 96 students in two parallel classes were tested for programming abilities, and qualitative interviews were conducted with the students. The results show that (1) the gap-filling flowchart scaffolding is beneficial to improve students' programming comprehensive performance; (2) especially the improvement of programming skills is more significant.