CHERP Tangible Blocks

• Overview
• Screenshots
• Projects

CHERP (Creative Hybrid Environment for Robotic Programming) is a hybrid tangible/graphical computer language designed to provide an engaging introduction to computer programming for children in both formal and informal educational settings. With CHERP you can create programs for robots like the LEGO Mindstorms RCX. It is currently being used for the Tangible Kindergarten project at the Tufts University Developmental Technologies Group.

Overview

The CHERP Programming System, or hybrid tangible/graphical programming lanugage is designed by members of the DevTech team for use in kindergarten classrooms. This language is designed to provide a painless introduction to computer programming for young children in classrooms, after school programs, and other learning settings. With tangible programming, children construct working computer programs by connecting interlocking wooden blocks. This allows children to work collaboratively anywhere in the classroom rather than having to crowd around a computer screen and share a mouse and keyboard.

The tangible component of our programming system consists of simple, low-cost wooden blocks with no electronics or batteries. Physical programs are converted into digital code and transmitted to LEGO Mindstorms robot using a standard web camera connected to a laptop computer.

Screenshots

Projects

CHERP is now being piloted in the project Tangible Programming in Early Childhood: Revising Developmental Assumptions through New Technologies where DevTech members are examining how young children are working and using these blocks to learn about programming and storytelling.

A similar technology, also developed by DevTech member Michael Horn can be found at the Boston Museum of Science.