Relationships Between Learner Characteristics and Computational Thinking for Middle School Students in Two Different Contexts

• In Event: 28.087 - Computational Thinking Across Contexts

Abstract

Although previous research has demonstrated the relationship between learner characteristics and programming success in higher education (Watson et al., 2014), a comprehensive approach to understand the relationships between learner characteristics and computational thinking (CT) in computing courses in K-12 education is lacking. The aim of this paper was to determine how a set of learner characteristics were related to the middle school students’ CT in two different computing contexts. The findings of this study have provided evidence on which learner characteristics are related to CT for middle school-aged students. Instructional designers, educators, and researchers should consider these learner characteristics in their design in CT-infused, middle school computing courses.

Authors

• Tuba Ketenci, Georgia Institute of Technology

• Jonathan Cohen, Georgia State University

• Brendan D. Calandra, Georgia State University

• Maggie Renken, Georgia State University

• Betul Erkan, Fulton Science Academy