In the era of digital transformation, block-based programming has become essential for teaching computational thinking and programming fundamentals to learners of all ages. Despite the widespread adoption of platforms like Scratch and Code.org, many existing environments lack comprehensive interactivity, customizability and seamless integration with widely used Learning Management Systems. This research explores the design, development and evaluation of NextBlocks, a block programming environment that addresses these gaps and enhances both teaching and learning experiences.

NextBlocks is a block programming environment integrated as a Moodle activity plugin that offers an interactive and fully customizable learning experience. At its core is an interactive terminal activated by a dedicated "Ask" block, which prompts users for input at any point during program execution. By mimicking the interactivity of text-based programming languages, the dynamic IO system creates a more fluid and immersive learning experience that encourages exploration and deepens comprehension of core programming concepts.

Additionally, NextBlocks empowers educators through a comprehensive and innovative exercise creation framework within Moodle, setting it apart from traditional block programming environments. Unlike most platforms that offer predefined exercises, NextBlocks allows teachers to design fully customized exercises that align with their course content and learning objectives. During this exercise creation, educators can provide custom blocks for students to use and set restrictions on how many times each block can be used, ensuring that learners develop problem-solving strategies without overreliance on particular programming constructs.

The favorite blocks feature enhances usability by allowing students to manually highlight frequently used blocks for quick access, while the system also selects commonly used blocks as favorites, reducing navigation time.

NextBlocks allows educators to create exercises with predefined test cases. When students submit their programs, the system automatically checks the output, providing instant feedback and grading. This enables iterative problem-solving and reduces grading effort.

Recognizing the need to bridge the gap between visual and text-based coding, NextBlocks provides dual representations by translating block-based programs into Python and JavaScript code, reinforcing the connection between visual programming paradigms and traditional text coding and preparing students for a wide range of real-world programming tasks.

NextBlocks also enriches the educational environment with advanced collaborative and evaluative tools. Integrated chat and real-time reaction systems facilitate immediate, interactive communication between educators and students, fostering a dynamic collaborative space for discussion, feedback and troubleshooting. An enhanced comments interface further supports detailed evaluation, enabling educators to provide targeted feedback while offering students a dedicated space to ask questions and seek guidance on best practices.

By uniting these innovative features within a single platform on Moodle, NextBlocks significantly improves the accessibility, interactivity and adaptability of programming education. It equips educators with powerful tools to create tailored, collaborative and effective learning experiences while preparing students for the evolving challenges of the digital age.

Keywords: Block Programming, Moodle, NextBlocks, Blockly, Visual Programming.