Computational Thinking in Education: Where does it fit? A systematic literary review

Computational Thinking (CT) has been described as an essential skill which everyone should learn and can therefore include in their skill set. Seymour Papert is credited as concretising Computational Thinking in 1980 but since Wing popularised the term in 2006 and brought it to the international community's attention, more and more research has been conducted on CT in education. The aim of this systematic literary review is to give educators and education researchers an overview of what work has been carried out in the domain, as well as potential gaps and opportunities that still exist. Overall it was found in this review that, although there is a lot of work currently being done around the world in many different educational contexts, the work relating to CT is still in its infancy. Along with the need to create an agreed-upon definition of CT lots of countries are still in the process of, or have not yet started, introducing CT into curriculums in all levels of education. It was also found that Computer Science/Computing, which could be the most obvious place to teach CT, has yet to become a mainstream subject in some countries, although this is improving. Of encouragement to educators is the wealth of tools and resources being developed to help teach CT as well as more and more work relating to curriculum development. For those teachers looking to incorporate CT into their schools or classes then there are bountiful options which include programming, hands-on exercises and more. The need for more detailed lesson plans and curriculum structure however, is something that could be of benefit to teachers

Decoding learning: the proof, promise and potential of digital education

With hundreds of millions of pounds spent on digital technology for education every year – from interactive whiteboards to the rise of one–to–one tablet computers – every new technology seems to offer unlimited promise to learning. many sectors have benefitted immensely from harnessing innovative uses of technology. cloud computing, mobile communications and internet applications have changed the way manufacturing, finance, business services, the media and retailers operate. But key questions remain in education: has the range of technologies helped improve learners’ experiences and the standards they achieve? or is this investment just languishing as kit in the cupboard? and what more can decision makers, schools, teachers, parents and the technology industry do to ensure the full potential of innovative technology is exploited? There is no doubt that digital technologies have had a profound impact upon the management of learning. institutions can now recruit, register, monitor, and report on students with a new economy, efficiency, and (sometimes) creativity. yet, evidence of digital technologies producing real transformation in learning and teaching remains elusive. The education sector has invested heavily in digital technology; but this investment has not yet resulted in the radical improvements to learning experiences and educational attainment. in 2011, the Review of Education Capital found that maintained schools spent £487 million on icT equipment and services in 2009-2010. 1 since then, the education system has entered a state of flux with changes to the curriculum, shifts in funding, and increasing school autonomy. While ring-fenced funding for icT equipment and services has since ceased, a survey of 1,317 schools in July 2012 by the british educational suppliers association found they were assigning an increasing amount of their budget to technology. With greater freedom and enthusiasm towards technology in education, schools and teachers have become more discerning and are beginning to demand more evidence to justify their spending and strategies. This is both a challenge and an opportunity as it puts schools in greater charge of their spending and use of technolog

Makerspaces: A Qualitative Look into Makerspaces as Innovative Learning Environment

This study examined makerspace instructor’s pedagogical practices and how these influenced learning within the space. Three different Makerspaces located in a library and K-12 were selected and studied. The instructors teaching within these spaces were observed, interviewed and artifacts collected. Preliminary results showed that the pedagogical practices of Makerspace instructors were in line with constructivist, framework for 21st century learning and constructionism theoretical framework. These results further showed that making and tinkering in the makerspace does contribute to learning if we define learning from the lenses of constructivist, framework for 21st century learning and constructionism framework. This study has several implications on education, learning through making and tinkering, on understanding Makerspace instructors and how their pedagogical practices are influencing students learning. In addition, administrators must provide support for teachers teaching in Makerspaces if they are to succeed in instilling the maker mindset

Youth, Technology, and DIY: Developing Participatory Competencies in Creative Media Production

Traditionally, educational researchers and practitioners have focused on the development of youths’ critical understanding of media as a key aspect of new media literacies. The 21st Century media landscape suggests an extension of this traditional notion of literacy – an extension that sees creative designs, ethical considerations, and technical skills as part of youth's expressive and intellectual engagement with media as participatory competencies. These engagements with media are also part of a growing Do-It-Yourself, or DIY, movement involving arts, crafts, and new technologies. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a framework and a language for understanding the multiple DIY practices in which youth engage while producing media. In the review, we will first provide a historical overview of the shifting perspectives of two related fields—new media literacies and computer literacy —before outlining the general trends in DIY media cultures that see youth moving towards becoming content creators. We then introduce how a single framework allows us to consider different participatory competencies in DIY under one umbrella. Special attention will be given to the digital practices of remixing, reworking, and repurposing popular media among disadvantaged youth. We will conclude with considerations of equity, access, and participation in after-school settings and possible implications for K-12 education

Improving a New Digital Content Creation Line of Study in Adult Education College

The topic of the research is digitalization and digital competence frameworks and competence in the digitalized world and programming. Research methods in the thesis are the qualitative research, the review of literature and case study. Used methods in case study are interviews, questionnaire and observation. Research group in the case study are the new Digital Content Creation line of study students. The new Digital Content Creation line of study was designed according to the Digital Competence Framework 2.0 from European Commission. With the questionnaires, students evaluated their digital skills in the beginning of the studies, in the middle of the study year and at the end of the studies. Review of literature was made in researching digitalization and digital frameworks and competence in digitalization and programming. The goal of the action research process was to improve the Digital Content Creation line of study curriculum and programming teaching. According to interviews, the students think that their digital skills have improved very much during the study year. Students have gained good basics to begin to learn more about programming. As a conclusion according to the research and the case study, basic civic skills that everyone should master are determined. Determined skills are: understanding technology, digital tools, privacy and security, communicating through digital technologies, problem solving, updating digital skills, computational thinking, searching and filtering digital information and giving specific instructions

IMSA360: Spring 2011

When I speak to parents, students, educators and legislators about the concept of “career readiness,” I emphasize that IMSA is preparing learners for careers that do not yet exist. Through learning experiences based on imagination and inquiry, IMSA students, whether enrolled in our residential program or in our statewide enrichment programs, learn to pursue compelling questions of interest, work collaboratively, conduct investigations and communicate findings. In the words of our Standards of Significant Learning, students learn to “think about thinking,” “extend and integrate thought,” and “construct questions which further understanding, forge connections and deepen meaning.” In short, they learn how to learn, enabling them to tackle present and future challenges that impact our local and global communities. This issue of IMSA360 features how the work of Enrollment and Academic Services prepares students to imagine, investigate, serve and lead. Recruitment of our state’s top talent is just one important facet of the work conducted by members of our dedicated team of specialists. They ensure that incoming students have rich opportunities to explore their unique passions, pursue new interests and become ethical leaders. Through guidance and an array of supportive programs and services, they help students to develop self-reliance, resilience, confidence, curiosity and resourcefulness – attributes that will serve them well in a world where rapid changes in economies, technologies and careers have become the norm. They also guide students through the increasingly complex and competitive college application process. This includes broadening students’ horizons by introducing them to unique college options that match their passions, goals and aspirations. Graduation does not mark the end of students’ connections to Enrollment and Academic Services and to IMSA. You will learn in this issue how alumni, having been deeply impacted by their IMSA experiences, are compelled to recruit and nurture the next generation of IMSA students. Excerpt: From the Presiden

Twenty-First Century Skill Building for Students With Special Needs Through Problem-Based Learning: An Examination Of Homeschool Teacher Blogs

Although problem-based learning (PBL) is not a new educational teaching method, little is known about the experiences of homeschool teachers who implement this teaching and learning approach with students with special needs. An increase in the number students with special needs being homeschooled made this study necessary and timely. The purpose of this study was to explore how publicly shared PBL experiences of homeschool teachers of students with special needs reflect 21st-century skills. The study was framed using 3 skill areas from a 21st-century skills framework including communication and collaboration, problem-solving and critical thinking, and cross-disciplinary knowledge. Data were collected from 20 blog sites that were each written by a homeschool teacher of at least 1 student with special needs. The sites had a minimum of 3 blog posts that referenced teaching and learning that aligned with the fundamentals of PBL. Deductive-dominant content analysis was completed on 87 blog posts through 2 levels of coding using both a priori and emergent coding. Key findings showed that the blog posts of homeschool teachers of students with special needs most often described (a) sharing, (b) creating inquiry environments and supports, and (c) cross-discipline content. Because the blog posts of homeschool teachers who use a PBL approach with their students with special needs reflect 21st-century skills, this study may encourage more teachers in the homeschool community to implement a PBL approach. The results from this study may contribute to positive social change by providing insights for homeschool teachers interested in purposefully implementing PBL experiences where students with special needs practice 21st-century skills

Evaluating and Integrating Educational Technology in the Elementary Mathematics Classroom

This study used a meta-analysis to analyze several studies examining the impact of technology in the mathematics classroom in order to investigate the functionality of digital tools, and the integration of those digital tools, that most positively impact student achievement and student engagement. Through a keyword search and exclusion criteria, a systematic collection of relevant articles was compiled and analyzed through a two-tier coding scheme. The analysis determined that professional development opportunities need to be provided before, during, and after integration of technology. In addition, educators and students need time prior to the lesson or unit to become familiar with the digital tool and its available functions. Furthermore, educators need to put pedagogy first in order to align strategies with the appropriate digital tools. Finally, digital tools should be introduced in a blended format, with the teacher as a facilitator and the digital activities connected to the curriculum