scholarly journals Elementary Students’ First Approach to Computational Thinking and Programming

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Susanne Kjällander ◽  
Linda Mannila ◽  
Anna Åkerfeldt ◽  
Fredrik Heintz
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Computational Thinking ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Students First ◽  
Group Interviews

Digital competence and programming are actively highlighted areas in education worldwide. They are becoming part of curricula all over the world, including the Swedish elementary school curriculum, Children are expected to develop computational thinking through programming activities, mainly in mathematics—which are supposed to be based on both proven experience and scientific grounds. Both are lacking in the lower grades of elementary school. This article gives unique insight into pupils’ learning during the first programming lessons based on a group of Swedish pupils’ experiences when entering school. The goal of the article is to inform education policy and practice. The large interdisciplinary, longitudinal research project studies approximately 1500 students aged 6–16 and their teachers over three years, using video documentation, questionnaires, and focus group interviews. This article reports on empirical data collected during the first year in one class with 30 pupils aged 6–7 years. The social semiotic, multimodal theoretical framework “Design for Learning” is used to investigate potential signs of learning in pupils’ multimodal representations when they, for example, use block programming in the primary and secondary transformation unit. We show that young pupils have positive attitudes to programming and high self-efficacy, and that pupils’ signs of learning in programming are multimodal and often visible in social interactions.

scholarly journals Hiding in Plain Sight: Identifying Computational Thinking in the Ontario Elementary School Curriculum

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eden J.V. Hennessey ◽  
Julie Mueller ◽  
Danielle Beckett ◽  
Peter A. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Computational Thinking ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Relevant Consideration

Given a growing digital economy with complex problems, demands are being made for education to addresscomputational thinking (CT) – an approach to problem solving that draws on the tenets of computer science. Weconducted a comprehensive content analysis of the Ontario elementary school curriculum documents for 44 CT-relatedterms to examine the extent to which CT may already be considered within the curriculum. The quantitative analysisstrategy provided frequencies of terms, and a qualitative analysis provided information about how and where termswere being used. As predicted, results showed that while CT terms appeared mostly in Mathematics, and concepts andperspectives were more frequently cited than practices, related terms appeared across almost all disciplines and grades.Findings suggest that CT is already a relevant consideration for educators in terms of concepts and perspectives;however, CT practices should be more widely incorporated to promote 21st century skills across disciplines. Futureresearch would benefit from continued examination of the implementation and assessment of CT and its relatedconcepts, practices, and perspectives.

The English Camps as Method of Promoting Fun English at Elementary School Level in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Meida Rachmawati ◽  
Suzana Widjajanti ◽  
Ahmad Ahmad ◽  
Aslan Aslan
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
School Level ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Learning Method ◽  
School Students ◽  
Scientific Publications

This article aimed to promote English in elementary school students through a fun learning method, called the Fun English Camp. Several studies had been conducted to encounter the best solution to handle this issue. The researchers used PRISMA Protocol as an instrument to collect the data that has been widely used in the process of selecting relevant articles. The researchers reviewed twenty five scientific publications, related to Fun English Camp that has become an English learning approach for beginner students. Through a review of twenty five scientific publications, for instance book and journal, the researchers got scientific evidence that introduction of a learning method with the term Fun English camp has an impact on promoting language learning for elementary school children in Indonesia. Thus, the fun English camp method can be an interesting method to be applied by elementary school curriculum design in Indonesia. Keywords: English Camps, Learning Method, Fun English Learning

Diversity in teachers’ approaches to movement integration: A qualitative study of lower secondary school teachers’ perceptions of a state school reform involving daily physical activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-447
Author(s):  
Henrik Taarsted Jørgensen ◽  
Sine Agergaard ◽  
Michalis Stylianou ◽  
Jens Troelsen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
School Reform ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Physical Activity Policy ◽  
Danish School ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Movement Integration

In the context of implementing a physical activity policy as part of a national school reform in Denmark, the purpose of this study was to explore lower secondary teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of the physical activity policy with a focus on movement integration. In total, 14 teachers from four different schools were selected to take part in this qualitative study, which involved semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, go-along observations and informal interviews. A thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and describe patterns of meaning within data. The findings showed substantial diversity among teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of movement integration, and consequently a lack of definitional clarity regarding movement integration and a possible misalignment between policy and practice. Teachers’ perceptions and interpretations of movement integration were influenced by other and more prioritised policies and discourses regarding academic achievement, as well as by intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional factors. The findings also suggested a lack of support and collaboration within the school and provided insights into the strengths and weaknesses associated with the autonomy afforded in the Danish school reform.

scholarly journals Military Veterans and Welfare Reform: Bridging Two Policy Worlds through Qualitative Longitudinal Research

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Lisa Scullion ◽  
Katy Jones ◽  
Peter Dwyer ◽  
Celia Hynes ◽  
Philip Martin
Keyword(s):  
Welfare Reform ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk

There has been an increasing focus in the UK on the support provided to the Armed Forces community, with the publication of the Armed Forces Covenant (2011), the Strategy for our Veterans (2018) and the first ever Office for Veterans’ Affairs (2019). There is also an important body of research – including longitudinal research – focusing on transitions from military to civilian life, much of which is quantitative. At the same time, the UK has witnessed a period of unprecedented welfare reform. However, research focused on veterans’ interactions with the social security system has been largely absent. This article draws on the authors’ experiences of undertaking qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) to address this knowledge gap. We reflect on how QLR was essential in engaging policy makers enabling the research to bridge the two parallel policy worlds of veterans’ support and welfare reform, leading to significant policy and practice impact.

Designing offline computer science activities for the korean elementary school curriculum

2008 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-338
Author(s):  
Sook Kyoung Choi ◽  
Tim Bell ◽  
Soo Jin Jun ◽  
Won Gyu Lee
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Science Activities

scholarly journals Media literacy education for a new prosumer citizenship

Comunicar ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (43) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa García-Ruiz ◽  
Antonia Ramírez-García ◽  
María-del-Mar Rodríguez-Rosell
Keyword(s):  
Media Literacy ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
State Level ◽  
Active Role ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Young Audiences ◽  
The Media

Access to technology and the Internet is having a positive impact on all levels, personal, family, professional and social. However, the influence of the media has not been accompanied by the promotion of media literacy. The development of the media skill among citizens, especially young people and children, in order to exercise a critical and active role in relation to the media, is a key development in this society of «media prosumers». This paper discusses the results of a research project at state level, surveying a sample of 2.143 students from Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School, in this study using a questionnaire ad hoc online. The objetive of the research project is to identify levels of media literacy amongst children and adolescents. It can be seen that a significant portion of the sample is proficient in the media, at an acceptable level. However, and despite belonging to the generation of socalled «digital natives» the sample does not possess the skills necessary to practice as a «media prosumers». We conclude the work highlighting the necessity of complementing the digital competence established in the school curriculum with media literacy as a key element into developing a «prosumer culture». This would resolve the convergence of an urgent need to improve the training of young audiences as responsible citizens capable of consuming and producing media messages in a free, responsible, critical and creative way. El acceso a las tecnologías y a Internet está teniendo consecuencias positivas en todos los niveles, personales, familiares, profesionales y sociales. Sin embargo, la influencia de los medios de comunicación no se ha acompasado con el fomento de la alfabetización mediática. El desarrollo de la competencia mediática en la ciudadanía, y especialmente en los jóvenes y niños para que puedan ejercer de forma crítica y activa su papel ante los medios, se revela como clave en esta sociedad de «prosumidores mediáticos». En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de un proyecto de investigación de ámbito estatal con el objetivo de identificar los niveles de competencia mediática de niños y adolescentes, encuestando a una muestra de 2.143 estudiantes de Educación Infantil, Primaria, Secundaria y Bachillerato, mediante un cuestionario ad hoc online. Puede observarse que una importante parte de la muestra es competente ante los medios, en un nivel aceptable, sin embargo, y a pesar de que pertenecen a la generación de los denominados «nativos digitales», no poseen las habilidades necesarias para ejercer como «prosumidores mediáticos». Concluimos el trabajo destacando la necesidad de complementar la competencia digital establecida en el currículum escolar con la competencia mediática, como elemento clave para desarrollar una «cultura prosumidora», convergencia de imperiosa necesidad para mejorar la formación de las jóvenes audiencias como ciudadanos responsables capaces de consumir y producir mensajes mediáticos de manera libre, responsable, crítica y creativa.

scholarly journals Computational Thinking, Between Papert and Wing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Lodi ◽  
Simone Martini
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Computer Science Education ◽  
Computational Thinking ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Common Theme ◽  
Technical Content ◽  
Technical Competencies ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Affective Involvement

AbstractThe pervasiveness of Computer Science (CS) in today’s digital society and the extensive use of computational methods in other sciences call for its introduction in the school curriculum. Hence, Computer Science Education is becoming more and more relevant. In CS K-12 education, computational thinking (CT) is one of the abused buzzwords: different stakeholders (media, educators, politicians) give it different meanings, some more oriented to CS, others more linked to its interdisciplinary value. The expression was introduced by two leading researchers, Jeannette Wing (in 2006) and Seymour Papert (much early, in 1980), each of them stressing different aspects of a common theme. This paper will use a historical approach to review, discuss, and put in context these first two educational and epistemological approaches to CT. We will relate them to today’s context and evaluate what aspects are still relevant for CS K-12 education. Of the two, particular interest is devoted to “Papert’s CT,” which is the lesser-known and the lesser-studied. We will conclude that “Wing’s CT” and “Papert’s CT,” when correctly understood, are both relevant to today’s computer science education. From Wing, we should retain computer science’s centrality, CT being the (scientific and cultural) substratum of the technical competencies. Under this interpretation, CT is a lens and a set of categories for understanding the algorithmic fabric of today’s world. From Papert, we should retain the constructionist idea that only a social and affective involvement of students into the technical content will make programming an interdisciplinary tool for learning (also) other disciplines. We will also discuss the often quoted (and often unverified) claim that CT automatically “transfers” to other broad 21st century skills. Our analysis will be relevant for educators and scholars to recognize and avoid misconceptions and build on the two core roots of CT.

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