{"ID":2829926,"CreatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","UpdatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","DeletedAt":null,"paper_url":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.11735","arxiv_id":"2512.11735","title":"The Right Kind of Help: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Intervention Methods in Elementary-Level Visual Programming","abstract":"Prior work has explored various intervention methods for elementary programming. However, the relative impact of these methods during the learning and post-learning phases remains unclear. In this work, we present a large-scale study comparing the effectiveness of various intervention methods in elementary programming both during learning and on novel tasks post-learning. Specifically, we compare three intervention methods: code-edit recommendations (Code-Rec), quizzes based on code edits (Code-Quiz), and quizzes based on metacognitive strategies (Plan-Quiz), along with a no-intervention control (group None). A total of 398 students (across grades 4-7) participated in a two-phase study: learning phase comprising write-code tasks from the Hour of Code: Maze Challenge with the intervention, followed by a post-learning phase comprising more advanced write-code tasks without any intervention. All intervention methods significantly improved learning performance over the control group while preserving students' problem-solving skills in the post-learning phase. Quiz-based methods further improved performance on novel post-learning tasks. Students in intervention groups also reported greater engagement and perceived skill growth.","short_abstract":"Prior work has explored various intervention methods for elementary programming. However, the relative impact of these methods during the learning and post-learning phases remains unclear. In this work, we present a large-scale study comparing the effectiveness of various intervention methods in elementary programming...","url_abs":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.11735","url_pdf":"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.11735v1","authors":"[\"Ahana Ghosh\",\"Liina Malva\",\"Alkis Gotovos\",\"Danial Hooshyar\",\"Adish Singla\"]","published":"2025-12-12T17:22:06Z","proceeding":"cs.CY","tasks":"[\"cs.CY\"]","methods":"[]","has_code":false}