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K-2nd Grade Teachers’ Perceptions of Computational Thinking: Research Findings and Implications for Integrating Engineering and Computational Thinking in Elementary Education (Fundamental)

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

PCEE Session 2: Teacher Learning Experiences

Page Count

16

DOI

10.18260/1-2--41264

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/41264

Download Count

468

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Paper Authors

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Abeera Rehmat University of Nebraska - Lincoln

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Abeera P. Rehmat is a Research Scientist II, at Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC). She has experience conducting research in engineering education that spans pre-college up to the collegiate level. Her research interest involves investigating how engineering and computer science education can foster students critical thinking and problem-solving skills to prepare them for the challenges of this evolving world.

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Hoda Ehsan The Hill School

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Monica Cardella Florida International University

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Monica E. Cardella is the Director of the School of Universal Computing, Construction, and Engineering Education (SUCCEED) at Florida International University. She is also a Professor of Engineering and Computing Education with a joint appointment in SUCCEED and the STEM Transformation Institute.

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Abstract

As engineering has been incorporated in elementary education over the past two decades, a primary focus has been on engineering design. This approach has been productive, particularly in integrating engineering with math, science, and language arts. However, design is only one aspect of engineering. Engineering as a field of study and a profession also involves mathematical modeling, teamwork, ethical reasoning, and computational modeling. In this paper we are interested in computational thinking as a way of thinking and a set of skills relevant for computational modeling and synergistic with engineering problem solving. Computational Thinking (CT) has been described as a set of essential skills that are relevant for computer science but also can be integrated across STEM disciplines. These skills have the potential to advance children’s problem-solving skills and foster their ability to think in new ways. However, for children to reap the benefits of CT, there is a critical need to prepare teachers who are well-equipped to teach CT. This qualitative study explores kindergarten through second grade teachers’ perceptions of CT after they have implemented a STEM+C+literacy curriculum in their classrooms. A thematic analysis of the data revealed that teachers associated computational thinking with specific coding activities, an interdisciplinary subject, and a problem-solving process.

Rehmat, A., & Ehsan, H., & Cardella, M. (2022, August), K-2nd Grade Teachers’ Perceptions of Computational Thinking: Research Findings and Implications for Integrating Engineering and Computational Thinking in Elementary Education (Fundamental) Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41264

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