Understanding how coding can be improved for students with additional needs
The first step to making block-based coding more accessible to everyone starts with understanding and research - but we need your help.
To empower children to create their best digital future, technology needs to be as accessible as possible today. Together with Google Blockly and Microsoft MakeCode, we have started work on making block based-coding more accessible.
Research is underway to make block-based coding accessible to people who rely on keyboard navigation and/or screen readers. We need specialist teachers and students from all over the world to complete our survey, to help us understand how to make coding solutions that are equitable for children who are blind/have visual impairments and children with dexterity impairments.
The challenges of block-based coding
Block-based coding is intended to be easy to use for complete beginners. However, it has always relied heavily on mouse-based gestures, such as drag-and-drop. This can be challenging for some people, as controlling a mouse accurately and confidently requires a significant amount of motor control.
Other techniques can be used to control a computer, such as switches, eye gaze, or keyboard controls. For example, a student with a physical disability such as cerebral palsy may control their computer using eye gaze. However, clicking and dragging an item using your eyes is very challenging, whereas selecting a large on-screen button to press arrow keys can be easier to achieve reliably.
Another student may use voice control or switches to send keyboard commands to their web browser. Previously, students had to use a mouse to do block-based programming with Microsoft MakeCode (and other Blockly-based programs) as it was not possible to use a keyboard to control the blocks. This meant block-based programming was inaccessible to anyone who could not use a mouse. It was also not accessible by a screen reader, so users who cannot see the MakeCode editor were limited to writing Javascript code rather than working with blocks.
In the first phase of this project, we are focusing on making sure users can do all their coding using keyboard control, without needing to use a mouse. For example, this will allow them to use arrow keys to easily move blocks around, without needing to drag them with a mouse. This also means the code editor will be more accessible to a variety of assistive technology, such as voice control, eye gaze and switch access.
In a later stage we will be focusing on screen reader accessibility, to ensure blind and visually impaired users have equal access to block-based coding with MakeCode.
To support and guide users through this journey, we are also developing onboarding support, such as information on keyboard controls within the tool and text-based support that pop up when you need it in context. We are also creating coding guide videos for first lessons projects in MakeCode and more keyboard control support documents.
Putting users at the heart
Research has started, in order to inform our work, and we have heard from some teachers and students already.
I don’t quite know how to express how exciting it is to be able to manipulate around a coding environment - just to be able to use keystrokes to move between components to begin with - and then to actually be able to select blocks and manipulate them! I feel like I am in a dream. Thank you for this work!
Jennifer Bliss, STEM Consultant, Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
By conducting in-depth research with young people from the community and their teachers, we want to gather insights, to help develop truly equitable solutions. Our current survey aims to gather input from as wide an audience as possible. We know the needs and challenges of young people with dexterity and/or visual impairments are highly diverse, so better understanding of the barriers and frustrations that exist will be incredibly helpful.
If you or someone you know can help, we would love to hear from you. Please complete the survey and share this article with them.
