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Volume 15
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10.3390/educsci15030292
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Article

How Do Elementary Students Apply Debugging Strategies in a Block-Based Programming Environment?

by
Wei Yan
1,*,
Feiya Luo
2,
Maya Israel
3,
Ruohan Liu
4 and
Latoya T. Chandler
3
1
School of Informatics, Computing & Cyber Systems, College of Engineering, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
2
Instructional Technology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
3
Department of Educational Technology, College of Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
4
Transformational Teaching & Learning, College of Education, Seattle University, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030292
Submission received: 14 January 2025 / Revised: 22 February 2025 / Accepted: 23 February 2025 / Published: 26 February 2025
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Abstract

Debugging is a growing topic in K-12 computer science (CS) education research. Although some previous studies have examined debugging behaviors, only a few have focused on an in-depth analysis of elementary students’ debugging behaviors in block-based programming environments. This qualitative study explored the debugging behaviors of four students, including their strategies and challenges. The study employed thematic video analysis of students’ computer screens as they engaged in block-based programming activities. The findings reveal five types of debugging strategies and three primary challenges during the debugging process. This study aims to help researchers and educators understand elementary students’ debugging strategies and the challenges they face. Suggestions for teaching debugging strategies to elementary students and the implications for future research are discussed.
Keywords: debugging; block-based programming; problem-solving; K-5; elementary education debugging; block-based programming; problem-solving; K-5; elementary education

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MDPI and ACS Style

Yan, W.; Luo, F.; Israel, M.; Liu, R.; Chandler, L.T. How Do Elementary Students Apply Debugging Strategies in a Block-Based Programming Environment? Educ. Sci. 2025, 15, 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030292

AMA Style

Yan W, Luo F, Israel M, Liu R, Chandler LT. How Do Elementary Students Apply Debugging Strategies in a Block-Based Programming Environment? Education Sciences. 2025; 15(3):292. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030292

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yan, Wei, Feiya Luo, Maya Israel, Ruohan Liu, and Latoya T. Chandler. 2025. "How Do Elementary Students Apply Debugging Strategies in a Block-Based Programming Environment?" Education Sciences 15, no. 3: 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030292

APA Style

Yan, W., Luo, F., Israel, M., Liu, R., & Chandler, L. T. (2025). How Do Elementary Students Apply Debugging Strategies in a Block-Based Programming Environment? Education Sciences, 15(3), 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030292

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