ERIC Number: EJ1470393
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 34
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2357
EISSN: EISSN-1573-7608
Available Date: 2024-12-02
The Future Has Arrived: An Exploration of Computational Thinking Readiness among Chinese Early Childhood Education Teachers
Bei Zeng1,2; Zuofei Geng1,2; Danyao Zhu1; Liping Guo1,2
Education and Information Technologies, v30 n7 p9371-9404 2025
Although computational thinking (CT) has emerged as an essential competence across all educational levels, limited research has focused on teachers' readiness for CT education, particularly within the context of early childhood education (ECE). This study involved 1,387 Chinese ECE teachers to identify their CT readiness profiles based on preconceptions, self-efficacy, and teaching efficacy related to CT, and to explore individual- and kindergarten-level predictors of profile membership. Results indicated an overall low level of CT readiness, with latent profile analysis identifying four heterogeneous profiles characterized by an inherent imbalance between CT knowledge and efficacy. Teachers' profile memberships were associated with various demographic characteristics. These findings emphasize the need for personalized, targeted professional development programs in CT. The study contributes to the global discourse on CT in ECE by highlighting the critical role and responsibility of teachers. Implications for future investigations into teachers' CT readiness and strategies for strengthening their preparedness for CT education are discussed.
Descriptors: Computation, Thinking Skills, Readiness, Early Childhood Teachers, Foreign Countries, Self Efficacy, Teacher Effectiveness, Knowledge Level, Profiles, Faculty Development, Teacher Role, Teacher Responsibility
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1East China Normal University, Institute of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Shanghai, China; 2East China Normal University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment for Basic Education Quality, Shanghai, China