Journal Articles
Designing unplugged and plugged activities to cultivate computational thinking: An exploratory study in early childhood education
- Designing unplugged and plugged activities to cultivate computational thinking: An exploratory study in early childhood education
- Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 29(1), 55-66, 2020
- Springer
- 2020
-
- Hong Kong
-
- 1997.7 onwards
-
- Pre-Primary Education
- Educators and policy makers have increasingly recognized the importance of computational thinking (CT). Despite the growing body of CT literature, how to cultivate CT is still underexplored and undertheorized in early childhood education. Informed by Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development, this exploratory study was conducted with a focus on three CT skills: pattern recognition, sequencing, and algorithm design. The framework for the study was developed in two stages. First, we designed two sets of unplugged activities (relying on tangible materials), aiming to (1) provide students with more concrete experiences of CT and (2) equip them with the necessary vocabularies/instructions for the subsequent plugged activity (with a digital device). The theoretical foundation for such an unplugged and plugged design comprised Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development and Asher’s Total Physical Response. In the second stage, we offered our CT course in a kindergarten in Hong Kong, involving six teacher participants and a total of 11 students from K1 to K3 (aged 3 to 6). After 10 h of CT training, almost all students demonstrated their mastery of pattern recognition and sequencing. However, the K1 students could only partially complete the tasks of algorithm design while the others generally reached the target level of achievement. Strengthening preschoolers’ training on CT language and differentiated instruction are some possible strategies to improve the CT instructions. Copyright © 2019 De La Salle University.
-
- English
- Journal Articles
-
- 01195646
- https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/en/bibs/103d4f8b
- 2020-05-18
Recent Journal Articles
探究課程政策對教師遊戲教學信念的影響: 以香港兩所幼稚園教師為例Journal Articles
Educational value priorities of Chinese parents in a global city: A mixed-methods study in Hong KongJournal Articles
The construct of integrated group discussion (IGD) among undergraduate students: To what extent does group discussion performance reflect performance on IGD tasks?Journal Articles
Constructivist learning approaches do not necessarily promote immediate learning outcome or interest in science learningJournal Articles
Work–life balance among higher-education professionals in Hong Kong and Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemicJournal Articles
Healthy eating report card for pre-school children in Hong KongJournal Articles
Assessing the relationship between teacher inclusive beliefs, behaviors, and competences of students with autism spectrum disordersJournal Articles
Developing language teachers’ professional generative AI competence: An intervention study in an initial language teacher education courseJournal Articles