Design and Application of an Online Judge-Based Learning Environment for Enhancing Computational Thinking in Block-Based Programming Language Education

Computational thinking is a fundamental competency in software education, encompassing key elements such as abstraction, automation, and creative integration. However, elementary programming education has traditionally placed a stronger emphasis on automation while often overlooking abstraction. To address this, this study designed and implemented an educational program utilizing an online judge system integrated into the Entry platform. The program aimed to foster computational thinking by requiring students to write and execute block-based code, evaluate their solutions through systematically designed test cases, and engage in iterative problem-solving. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to examine the program's effectiveness. The experimental group, which used an online judge-based system, was compared to a control group that followed conventional textbook-based programming instruction. Both groups participated in pre- and post-tests measuring their computational thinking skills. The results indicated that students in the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in both abstraction and automation, whereas the control group primarily improved in automation. These findings highlight a critical limitation of traditional textbook-based programming education, which tends to emphasize procedural execution over problem abstraction. Despite promising outcomes, this study had limitations. The sample size was relatively small, and the absence of an automated grading system necessitated manual evaluation of student responses, which may have introduced inconsistencies. Future research should refine the automation of test case evaluation, expand the participant pool, and investigate the long-term impacts on computational thinking development. Additionally, ensuring open access to educational resources and continuously updating the system could contribute to more effective and scalable elementary programming education.