RoboBlockly Studio: Conversational Block Programming with Embodied Robot Feedback for Computational Thinking
This work addresses the challenge of making abstract programming concepts tangible for learners and teachers in computing education.
RoboBlockly Studio integrates block-based programming, a conversational AI teaching agent, and embodied robot feedback to help high school students learn computational thinking. In a study with 32 students, the system improved their understanding of CT concepts and problem-solving strategies.
Computational thinking (CT) is increasingly promoted as a core literacy, yet learners and teachers face challenges in connecting abstract program logic to meaningful outcomes. We design and evaluate RoboBlockly Studio, an integrated interactive system that combines block-based programming, a conversational AI teaching agent, and embodied robot execution. RoboBlockly Studio creates a tight iterative loop of authoring, running, observing, and revising. Informed by interviews with five programming teachers, the system was designed to support four goals: (1) preserving learner agency in computational thinking, (2) making program behavior transparent and interpretable, (3) grounding programming in embodied, classroom-aligned tasks, and (4) scaffolding reflection through pedagogically grounded AI dialogue. We deployed RoboBlockly Studio with 32 high school students, observing how robot and AI feedback influenced students' interactions with code, reflections on problem-solving strategies, and understanding of CT concepts. We discuss design insights and implications for creating interactive, embodied learning environments that integrate AI and robotics to support CT learning in computing education.