A Code-Free, Direct-Manipulation Interface for Constructing Boolean Expressions
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Boolean algebra is foundational to programming, yet the terse textual syntax of boolean expressions does not map clearly onto the way that students reason about logical conditions. To help bridge this gap, we introduce Boolean Canvas, a direct-manipulation interface that lets learners construct visual boolean diagrams while the corresponding Python code is generated in real time. We report on a within-subjects study with 29 tertiary-level students who solved boolean-logic tasks in Python with and without Boolean Canvas. Task success, cognitive load, system enjoyment, and perceived usability were recorded. Results show that Boolean Canvas performs similarly to a traditional code editor across objective and self-reported measures. We reflect on the design and study outcomes, identifying which features supported learning, which did not, and why, and offer evidence-based recommendations for instructors and tool builders.
Institution: ETH Zurich
Language: English
Subfield: Computer Science Applications
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7128820338