@inproceedings{014027dd6dd74043a55f3f8a276593ee,
title = "Evaluations of programming complexity in app inventor",
abstract = "To understand computational thinking in App Inventor, it is important to be able to effectively evaluate computational complexity in block-based programming languages. In the past, there have been a handful of complexity measures proposed for text-based languages (Weyuker, 1988). In this paper, we will attempt to implement 2 such measures, Halstead{\textquoteright}s Programming Effort and statement count, in App Inventor on a dataset of projects from 50 random users. The goal is to determine whether or not text programming standards for complexity can be generalized to block programming languages. This paper shows that the 2 complexity measures we implemented are not adequate measures for complexity in App Inventor. This result indicates a need for different measures of complexity that more accurately portray block programming proficiency. We hope this study will be a gateway into a better understanding of the intricacies of App Inventor{\textquoteright}s block programming language and its unique contributions to the development of computational thinking.",
keywords = "App Inventor, Block-based Programming, Computational Thinking, Data Analytics, Programming Complexity",
author = "Ruan, {Lisa L.} and Patton, {Evan W.} and Mike Tissenbaum",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017, The Education University of Hong Kong. All rights reserved.; 1st International Conference on Computational Thinking Education, CTE 2017 ; Conference date: 13-07-2017 Through 15-07-2017",
year = "2017",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "9789887703440",
series = "Proceedings of International Conference on Computational Thinking Education",
publisher = "The Education University of Hong Kong",
pages = "2--5",
editor = "Siu-cheung KONG and Josh SHELDON and LI, {Robert Kwok-yiu}",
booktitle = "Proceedings of International Conference on Computational Thinking Education, CTE 2017",
}