Developing Third-Grade Students' Computational Thinking Skills With Educational Robotics

• In Event: Computational Thinking and Robotics

Abstract

The paper examines how computational thinking can be taught to young children with the use of educational robotics using the kit LEGO WeDo. Computational thinking was measured in terms of four sub-skills, namely, sequencing, correspondence between actions and instructions, debugging, and flow of control. Students were assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The results of the study showed that educational robotics was an effective method for teaching computational thinking skills to elementary school students. According to the findings, students in the experimental group outperformed the students in the control group. These findings showed that, despite the short duration of the intervention, engaging children in computer programming activities with robots helped them to develop computational thinking skills.

Authors

• Charoula M. Angeli, University of Cyprus

• Eria Makridou