Teachers' Views of Computational Thinking: Implications for Embedding Computational Thinking in K–12

• In Event: 53.082 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: 53.082-3 - Special Topics in Engineering and Computer Science: Engineering Design, Computational Thinking, and Assessment

Abstract

Computational thinking has been offered as something students should learn. Teaching in-service teachers how to implement CT is important. We have an imperfect idea of how exactly in-service teachers conceive of computational thinking. The literature conceptualizes CT as a collection of mental skills and habits of mind, while it seems that pre-service teachers can often see CT as the use of computers or thinking like a computer. Our study used an opportunistic sample to discover whether pre-service teachers’ conceptions were more developed and in agreement with the literature. They were not. This study will help us in developing appropriate professional development materials that address these differences.

Authors

• Jonathon Good, Michigan State University

• Aman Yadav, Michigan State University