The Bricklayer Ecosystem - Art, Math, and Code
Victor Winter (University of Nebraska-Omaha), Betty Love (University, of Nebraska-Omaha), Cindy Corritore (Creighton University)
TL;DR
The paper introduces the Bricklayer Ecosystem, an accessible online platform that uses functional programming to teach coding through creating visual artifacts, suitable for learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Contribution
It presents a versatile educational ecosystem that integrates functional programming with visual artifact creation, applicable across diverse educational levels.
Findings
Successfully used in primary, middle, and university education
Supports multiple visualization tools and formats
Engages learners through creative coding activities
Abstract
This paper describes the Bricklayer Ecosystem - a freely-available online educational ecosystem created for people of all ages and coding backgrounds. Bricklayer is designed in accordance with a "low-threshold infinite ceiling" philosophy and has been successfully used to teach coding to primary school students, middle school students, university freshmen, and in-service secondary math teachers. Bricklayer programs are written in the functional programming language SML and, when executed, create 2D and 3D artifacts. These artifacts can be viewed using a variety of third-party tools such as LEGO Digital Designer (LDD), LDraw, Minecraft clients, Brickr, as well as STereoLithography viewers.
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