ERIC Number: EJ1204965
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Mar
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0735-6331
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Computational Thinking Equity in Elementary Classrooms: What Third-Grade Students Know and Can Do
Journal of Educational Computing Research, v57 n1 p3-31 Mar 2019
The Computer Science Teachers Association has asserted that computational thinking equips students with essential critical thinking which allows them to conceptualize, analyze, and solve more complex problems. These skills are applicable to all content area as students learn to use strategies, ideas, and technological practices more effectively as digital natives. This research examined over 200 elementary students' pre- and posttest changes in computational thinking from a 10-week coding program using adapted lessons from code.org's Blockly programming language and CSUnplugged that were delivered as part of the regular school day. Participants benefited from early access to computer science (CS) lessons with increases in computational thinking and applying coding concepts to the real world. Interviews from participants included examples of CS connections to everyday life and interdisciplinary studies at school. Thus, the study highlights the importance of leveraging CS access in diverse elementary classrooms to promote young students' computational thinking; motivation in CS topics; and the learning of essential soft-skills such as collaboration, persistence, abstraction, and creativity to succeed in today's digital world.
Descriptors: Equal Education, Elementary School Students, Pretests Posttests, Computer Science Education, Thinking Skills, Computer Literacy, Critical Thinking, Technological Literacy, Outcomes of Education, Coding, Programming Languages, Interdisciplinary Approach, Learning Motivation, Cooperation, Persistence, Creativity, Skill Development
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
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Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A