Given the connection between problem-solving and computational thinking (CT), studying the connections between these two constructs is critical. This study focused on students' computational problem-solving strategies, specifically how they applied conditional logic to solve CT-related puzzles within a game-based learning environment called…

At an unrivaled and enduring pace, computing has transformed the world, resulting in demand for a universal fourth foundation beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic: computational thinking (CT). Despite increasingly widespread acceptance of CT as a crucial competency for all, transforming education systems accordingly has proven complex. The…

Computational thinking (CT) is an essential 21st century skill for people to succeed in the increasingly technological (and interconnected) world. Researchers have explored different interventions to teach students CT skills (e.g., Scratch and robotics), but digital game-based learning is relatively under-researched. A critical issue to address in…

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to assess differences between US K-12 teachers who participated in digital game-based learning (DGBL) and those who participated in digital learning (DL), in terms of pre-/posttest gains in computational thinking (CT) and pre-/posttest changes in perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived…

The goal of this dissertation was to document and analyze ways in which a game can be a valid and useful assessment of teachers' competency for the wise integration of technology in the classroom. Using concepts from ecological psychology and situated cognition, this study analyzed card and board games as measures of the situative and interactive…