Teachers’ goals predict computational thinking gains in robotics
Information and Learning Sciences
ISSN: 2398-5348
Article publication date: 28 February 2019
Issue publication date: 10 June 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Computational thinking (CT) is widely considered to be an important component of teaching generalizable computer science skills to all students in a range of learning environments, including robotics. However, despite advances in the design of robotics curricula that can teach CT, actual enactment in classrooms may often fail to reach this target. This study aims to understand whether the various instructional goals teachers’ hold when using these curricula may offer one potential explanation for disparities in outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors examine results from N = 206 middle-school students’ pre- and post-tests of CT, attitudinal surveys and surveys of their teacher’s instructional goals to determine if student attitudes and learning gains in CT are related to the instructional goals their teachers endorsed while implementing a shared robotics programming curriculum.
Findings
The findings provide evidence that despite using the same curriculum, students showed differential learning gains on the CT assessment when in classrooms with teachers who rated CT as a more important instructional goal; these effects were particularly strong for women. Students in classroom with teachers who rated CT more highly also showed greater maintenance of positive attitudes toward programming.
Originality/value
While there is a growing body of literature regarding curricular interventions that provide CT learning opportunities, this study provides a critical insight into the role that teachers may play as a potential support or barrier to the success of these curricula. Implications for the design of professional development and teacher educative materials that attend to teachers’ instructional goals are discussed.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL 1418199). The opinions are those of the authors and do not represent the policies of the funding agency. The authors would also like to acknowledge Ross Higashi and Josh Jarvis for their consultation and support with the development and design of the curricular materials and Mary Kay Stein for her insights and comments on an earlier draft. This research has been approved by the Human Research Protection Office at the University of Pittsburgh.
Citation
Witherspoon, E.B. and Schunn, C.D. (2019), "Teachers’ goals predict computational thinking gains in robotics", Information and Learning Sciences, Vol. 120 No. 5/6, pp. 308-326. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-05-2018-0035
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited