What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking?

Computers were popularized about 40 years ago in the ’80s and the internet 20 years ago in the early 2000s, but the consistent implementation of computer science (CS) is still in early stages in many primary and middle schools (Eickelmann and Vennemann 2017, 733-761). National curricula include comp...

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Main Author: Muilu, Mikko
Other Authors: Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta, Faculty of Information Technology, Informaatioteknologia, Information Technology, Jyväskylän yliopisto, University of Jyväskylä
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2021
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/76719
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author Muilu, Mikko
author2 Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Faculty of Information Technology Informaatioteknologia Information Technology Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
author_facet Muilu, Mikko Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Faculty of Information Technology Informaatioteknologia Information Technology Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä Muilu, Mikko Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Faculty of Information Technology Informaatioteknologia Information Technology Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
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description Computers were popularized about 40 years ago in the ’80s and the internet 20 years ago in the early 2000s, but the consistent implementation of computer science (CS) is still in early stages in many primary and middle schools (Eickelmann and Vennemann 2017, 733-761). National curricula include computational thinking (CT) and information and communication technology (ICT), but only a few have practical implementation guidelines for them (Bour-geois, Birch, and Davydovskaia 2019). The digital transformation taking place everywhere and in every work area requires new competencies for everyone (Sousa and Rocha 2019, 327-334). The sooner schools adapt to the demand for new skills, the better. For middle school students to understand and learn programming logic, primary and elementary schools should first teach computational thinking and other basic skills. The National curricula of every country under the scope of this research mention ICT, CS and CT (Bour-geois, Birch, and Davydovskaia 2019), but the content and implementation is left for teachers to decide according to the interviewees in this study (Finland, Estonia, Germany, and Greece, ten teachers each). Without unambiguous definitions and guidelines, implementation varies a lot between schools and even between teachers. For example, in the Estonian curriculum, digital competence is one of the mandatory general competencies that schools must develop in the pupils (Lauringson and Rillo 2015). However, most interviewed Estonian teachers say that in order to carry this out, they need more allocated time, resources, and teacher education. This study aims to understand the most common barriers to teaching computational thinking in Europe. A total of 41 teachers from four different countries were interviewed about teaching CT and other computer skills. The most common barriers found in all countries were lack of time, lack of teacher education, lack of material, and lack of resources. Student motivation and student skill heterogeneity were among the new barriers found. The results vary between countries.
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spellingShingle Muilu, Mikko What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking? computational thinking algorithmic thinking Tietotekniikka Mathematical Information Technology 602 kompetenssi koulutus teknologia opetus tietotekniikka esteet opetussuunnitelmat tieto- ja viestintätekniikka opettajat competence education and training technology teaching and instruction information technology barriers curricula information and communications technology teachers
title What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking?
title_full What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking?
title_fullStr What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking? What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking?
title_full_unstemmed What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking? What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking?
title_short What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking?
title_sort what are the barriers to teaching computational thinking
title_txtP What are the barriers to teaching computational thinking?
topic computational thinking algorithmic thinking Tietotekniikka Mathematical Information Technology 602 kompetenssi koulutus teknologia opetus tietotekniikka esteet opetussuunnitelmat tieto- ja viestintätekniikka opettajat competence education and training technology teaching and instruction information technology barriers curricula information and communications technology teachers
topic_facet 602 Mathematical Information Technology Tietotekniikka algorithmic thinking barriers competence computational thinking curricula education and training esteet information and communications technology information technology kompetenssi koulutus opettajat opetus opetussuunnitelmat teachers teaching and instruction technology teknologia tieto- ja viestintätekniikka tietotekniikka
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/76719 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202106213913
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