Designing Embodied Pedagogical Strategies for Learning Computational Thinking: A Design-Based Research Approach

• In Event: 66.079 - Roundtable Session 25
  In Roundtable Session: 66.079-5 - Reasoning, Modeling, Embodied Pedagogy, Expertise, and Self-Regulation

Abstract

Increased female representation and perspectives in and access to computer science education remains essential for justice in education. Currently, a research and design team is developing a virtual environment and curriculum that blends movement and computer programming with a goal of increasing participation and interest of middle school girls in computer science. What role might embodied strategies play in computational thinking? This virtual environment will allow users to move from choreographing dance in the physical world to programming a virtual character to perform their choreography, and finally, to perform alongside their virtual character. To inform the design of this new environment, the team is conducting design-based research iterations with related programming, focusing this paper on its most recent research findings.

Authors

• Alison E Leonard, Clemson University

• Shaundra Bryant Daily, University of Florida

• Sophie Joerg, Clemson University

• Sabarish Babu, Clemson University