Title:
Digital Formation: An International Symposium on “Coding as Another Language” [Download]Authors:
Marina Bers
Index Terms:
Abstract:
Over three years, the DevTech Research Group convened an international network of educational institutions across seven countries to support the localization, implementation, and evaluation of the Coding as Another Language (CAL)–ScratchJr curriculum. This collaboration culminated in the 2025 international symposium “A Palette of Virtues: A Humanistic Education through Computer Science,” where practitioners and researchers reflected on their pedagogical practices using the Palette of Virtues Reflection Tool and the continuum of playpen to playground learning environments. Across diverse cultural contexts, participants examined how coding playgrounds can cultivate virtues such as curiosity, perseverance, generosity, and gratitude through creative, collaborative engagement with technology. Emerging insights suggest that when early CS education intentionally integrates technical instruction with opportunities for reflection and moral choice, it can serve as a powerful context for human formation. Framed within the broader dialogue between STEM and the liberal arts, this work positions the teaching of coding as a humanistic endeavor focused on digital formation by providing opportunities for self-directed learning, critical thinking and relational processes that lead to empowerment and self-actualization. Drawing on the tradition of virtue ethics, participants in the symposium explored the potential of teaching computer science as a path to human flourishing rather than merely job preparation or utility.
DOI:
How to cite:
Marina Bers, "Digital Formation: An International Symposium on “Coding as Another Language”", IEEE-RITA, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 403-405, Jan. 2026. doi: 10.1109/RITA.2026.3702523