The study examined the Advancing Rural Computer Science (ARCS) program, a professional development initiative designed to improve elementary teachers' computer science (CS) content knowledge, pedagogical practices, and self-efficacy, with the goal of enhancing K-5 students' interest in and knowledge of CS. ARCS was funded through USED EIR…

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its increasing societal impacts have turned many computing educators' focus toward early education in machine learning (ML). Limited options for educational tools for teaching novice learners about the mechanisms of ML and data-driven systems presents a recognized challenge in K-12 computing…

Computational thinking (CT) is becoming increasingly important as a learning content. Subject-integrated approaches aim to develop CT within other subjects like mathematics. The question is how exactly CT can be integrated and learned in mathematics classrooms. In a case study involving 12 sixth-grade learners, CT activities were explored that…

This study investigates the use of exit tickets as formative assessments in maths-integrated computer science (CS) lessons for grade 5 students. Exit tickets are brief surveys administered immediately after instructional activities. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), we analysed data from 1,067 students to examine the reliability and…

Due to mandates for the inclusion of engineering and computer science standards for K-6 schools nationwide, there is a need to understand how teacher educators can help develop preservice teachers' (PSTs') teaching self-efficacy in these areas. To provide experience teaching and learning engineering and coding, PSTs in an instructional technology…

This study investigated the effectiveness of localized learning content (LLC) in enhancing computational thinking (CT) skills and learning motivation among 6th-grade elementary school students in Busan, South Korea. In contrast to conventional methodological approaches, our research focuses on the transformative power of culturally and…

In recent years, digital storytelling activities have been used in various disciplines. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of digital storytelling on students' digital literacy, 21st century skills, academic success, and retention in the sixth-grade Information Technologies and Software course. In the research, a…

Computational thinking is becoming an essential skill in educational systems. There is, however, still a great deal to learn about it. This research aims to evaluate whether the inclusion of a specific material (Junior School Bebras Cards) favors the development of primary students' computational thinking skills. For this purpose, 37 fourth-grade…

There is a growing consensus that AI literacy requires a holistic lens, including not only technical knowledge and skills but also social and ethical considerations. Yet, providing holistic AI education for upper-primary students remains challenging due to the abstract and complex nature of AI and a lack of pedagogical experiences in schools.…

Programmed control systems are ubiquitous in the present-day world. In current educational practice, however, these systems are hardly being addressed, and little is known about children's spontaneous understandings about such systems. Therefore, we explored pupils' understandings prior to instruction in three concrete settings: a car park, an…

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of 42 fifth-grade students (ages 11-12) along with 8 staff members, 9 ornithologists, and 10 high-tech experts who participated in a hackathon event. This was the culmination of a learning process designed to find environmental, technological, and humane solutions to the competition between the…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of robotic coding activities on elementary school students' metacognitive skills and attitudes towards robotic coding. A mixed-method approach was employed in the research, utilizing a single group pre-and post-test design. The study sample consisted of 20 students enrolled in the fourth grade…

Objectives: Limited research exists on how new computer science (CS) teachers understand fundamental Internet principles. This knowledge gap hinders the development of effective upskilling courses, especially as new CS curricula are being introduced worldwide. This study investigates new CS teachers' conceptions of fundamental Internet principles,…

Background and Context: Educators and researchers are interested in building the computational thinking (CT) skills of K-12 students. However, the availability of language-agnostic assessments for lower elementary graders remains limited. Objective: We present preliminary insights into the reliability and validity of the Computational Thinking…

The "Coding Our Future" intervention aimed to develop and implement a Computer Science (CS) curriculum, and to train teachers to offer computer science courses in elementary and middle schools. Its goals were to enhance students' competency and self-efficacy in computer science and to boost the enrollment of underrepresented students in…