Codula, a Social Network Geared Towards Programming Education (Short Paper)

Abstract

Digital social networks have become an ubiquitous presence to almost everyone, to the point that they are frequently taken for granted whenever someone gets asked for their contact. Beyond that, it is without doubt that their capacity for stimulating participation in groups and exchange of ideas, while retaining attention for long periods of time is - for good, or for bad - highly efficient. If taken for a good cause, their features can become fierce allies to educators in their teaching efforts. Specially in the case of Computer Programming, a sharp, and difficult matter, social networks can be of great value, not only for their inherent technological link to Computer Programming, but also for their natural connection to students that dare to pursue the arduous path to become programmers. Codula is a social network that was designed and implemented with the purpose of paving and shortening this path, both for students, and educators alike. This paper presents both Codula’s design principles that guided its construction, and main features, that were carefully crafted to fulfil its purpose. While foundational concepts solidified design choices, such as the absence of different roles for users, and the stimulus of the sense of belonging via personal customisation, features were implemented to directly support Computer Programming Education, such as the specification of different post types, and functionalities that facilitate composing, sharing, and commenting source code. By converting opposing forces of a commonly found distraction, Codula aims to leverage the best aspects of social networks to support a better cause, in the hopes of stimulating a successful collective teaching-learning process.