Developing Computational Thinkers: A Working Example for Using App Programming With Middle School Students

• In Event: Poster Session 15
  In Poster Session: STEM Education in K-12 and Higher Education

Abstract

This paper describes a working example for using application programming activities to support the development of computational thinking practices with middle school students. This ongoing work began with a pilot study focused on the use of MIT AppInventor to teach basic application programming. The research team is using the results of this pilot to inform a scaled version of the study to be implemented in Fall 2013. As a working example, the project is design-based in its approach to research and development and iteratively formative in its attention to evaluation. As part of the Working Examples Community site, the researchers have opened up this continuing work for feedback and collaboration with peers.

Authors

• D Matthew Boyer, Clemson University

• Danielle Christine Herro, Clemson University

• Christina M. Gardner, Georgia Institute of Technology