Learning to program is difficult. The Supportive IDE project is exploring how the tools we use to write code can better support beginner programmers. So far, we have created a library to detect symptoms of common misconceptions about Python concepts. You can use our symptom checker to upload Python files and see what types of issues our library detects. We are currently working on embedding help and guidance for detected misconceptions in a simple web-based IDE and a Visual Studio Code extension. We are working with schools and higher education programmes to continue to develop these resources.
What can we help with?
The tools and resources developed as part of this project are intended to be integrated alongside existing standard approaches to error detection. We focus on issues like the one shown below, which aren't already detected by the standard tools, and which suggest the programmer may not understand a basic concept.
Our tools are task-independent. This means they are not tied to a particular curriculum or set of activities but also that they cannot help with logic or strategic issues.
Research Outputs
Publications
Tools
Get Involved
Python learners: Participate in the beta test of our VS Code extension.
Educators: We are keen to hear from programming educators who would like to get involved with the design and / or testing of our resources.
PhD applicants: We are also looking for PhD students with experience or interest in any of the following areas: HCI, UX design, learning sciences, computer science. We don't have funding for studentships at the moment but we are working on it!
Contributors
Current
Abi Evans (project lead)
Josh Hunter
Past
Jieren Liu
Daniel Lock
Zewuzi Meng
Zihan Wang
Mingming Zheng