Picthon : A Learning Environment of Python through Pictogram Content Creation

We have been developing an environment for pictogram content creation called "Pictogramming." It also acts as learning the basic concepts of programming languages. This application includes "Pictogram Animation Command" that makes various postures of human-shaped pictograms and "Pictogram Graphics Command" that can draw figures using three different methods. The combination of these two commands will enable a user to create works based on design guidelines in a short period. Pictogramming adopts its own command notation. Hence, we constructed a Python library that can provide the Pictogramming source code as an output and a web-based application that can create pictograms using Python language. We term this learning environment "Picthon." It inherits the all characteristics of Pictogramming. We evaluated the feasibility of class lessons using this application on approximately 130 junior high school students. The questionaire SD (Semantic Differential) scale method is used to analize. We found the result of the lesson which learned by Picthon was well as Pictogramming.