Eureka! Institutional Repository

The teaching of computer programming in the Greek educational system changes depending on the developments in the offered programming environments. From the traditional general purpose programming languages that were the main learning environment in the "raw" 80s and 90s, we moved to their "translated" version and to the pseudocode writing environments at the beginning of the new millennium, to reach today to use specially designed environments with the use of visual elements and playful character, which are based more than ever on the internet and its communities. At the same time, the medium in which the students experiment and practice is adapted accordingly. The state-of-the-art personal computer (PC) gives its scepter to mobile devices, significantly changing the scope and philosophy of programming. This dissertation explores issues related to teaching programming on mobile devices using the App Inventor environment. The work aims to highlight the positive contribution of the environment and its potential for use in teaching practice. The qualitative research of the work uses as a method the case study of experienced IT teachers, from various educational structures, who apply teaching scenarios based on the App Inventor and convey their views through a questionnaire. From the analysis and interpretation of their views, the paper concludes that App Inventor has the potential to leverage portable learning and facilitate the teaching of programming to beginners. At the same time, the difficulties and obstacles that are created for students and teachers from their adaptation to mobile learning and the use of the App Inventor are recorded.