Computational Thinking in the STEM Disciplines: Foundations and Research Highlights

Description

This book covers studies of computational thinking related to linking, infusing, and embedding computational thinking elements to school curricula, teacher education and STEM related subjects. Presenting the distinguished and exemplary works by educators and researchers in the field highlighting the contemporary trends and issues, creative and unique approaches, innovative methods, frameworks, pedagogies and theoretical and practical aspects in computational thinking. A decade ago the notion of computational thinking was introduced by Jeannette Wing and envisioned that computational thinking will be a fundamental skill that complements to reading, writing and arithmetic for everyone and represents a universally applicable attitude. The computational thinking is considered a thought processes involved in a way of solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behaviour. Assimilating computational thinking at young age will assist them to enhance problem solving skills, improve logical reasoning, and advance analytical ability - key attributes to succeed in the 21st century. Educators around the world are investing their relentless effort in equipping the young generation with real-world skills ready for the demand and challenges of the future. It is commonly believed that computational thinking will play a pivotal and dominant role in this endeavour. Wide-ranging research on and application of computational thinking in education have been emerged in the last ten years. This book will document attempts to conduct systematic, prodigious and multidisciplinary research in computational thinking and present their findings and accomplishments. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Strategies for Developing Computational Thinking (Myint Swe Khine)....Pages 3-9 Characteristics of Studies Conducted on Computational Thinking: A Content Analysis (Filiz Kalelioğlu)....Pages 11-29 Microworlds, Objects First, Computational Thinking and Programming (Greg Michaelson)....Pages 31-48 Toward a Phenomenology of Computational Thinking in STEM Education (Pratim Sengupta, Amanda Dickes, Amy Farris)....Pages 49-72 Strictly Objects First: A Multipurpose Course on Computational Thinking (Johannes Krugel, Peter Hubwieser)....Pages 73-98 Introducing Computational Thinking Through Spreadsheets (John Sanford)....Pages 99-124 Front Matter ....Pages 125-125 Preparing Pre-service Teachers to Promote Computational Thinking in School Classrooms (Charoula Angeli, Kamini Jaipal-Jamani)....Pages 127-150 Computational Thinking in K-12: In-service Teacher Perceptions of Computational Thinking (Phil Sands, Aman Yadav, Jon Good)....Pages 151-164 A Computational Thinking Curriculum and Teacher Professional Development in South Korea (Soohwan Kim, Hae Young Kim)....Pages 165-178 Front Matter ....Pages 179-179 Exploring the Scope and the Conceptualization of Computational Thinking at the K-12 Classroom Level Curriculum (Georgios Fessakis, Vasilis Komis, Elisavet Mavroudi, Stavroula Prantsoudi)....Pages 181-212 Introducing Coding and Computational Thinking in the Schools: The TACCLE 3 – Coding Project Experience (Francisco José García-Peñalvo, Daniela Reimann, Christiane Maday)....Pages 213-226 Case Studies of Elementary Children’s Engagement in Computational Thinking Through Scratch Programming (Sze Yee Lye, Joyce Hwee Ling Koh)....Pages 227-251 Integrating Computational Thinking in School Curriculum (Mehmet Aydeniz)....Pages 253-277 Susceptibility to Learn Computational Thinking Against STEM Attitudes and Aptitudes (Ana Calderon)....Pages 279-299 Mapping Computational Thinking for a Transformative Pedagogy (Michael Vallance, Phillip A. Towndrow)....Pages 301-325