home - login - register

PERC 2020 Abstract Detail Page

Previous Page  |  New Search  |  Browse All

Abstract Title: Development of computational thinking skills in an introductory physics lab.
Abstract: Computational thinking (CT) is the third pillar of the scientific method along with theory and experimentation and is a fundamental skill that students should be equipped with. Research on CT has only been active for the last 10 years and the integration of CT aspects in instruction is a widely expanding phenomenon in physics classrooms. While there are some descriptions of expert CT skills in the literature, there is a minimal description of novice CT skills and no accepted framework that describe novice behavior.  In this study, we used video data of student group interactions and by using an existing framework of computational modeling processes, we document how novice students engage in tasks that involve CT in an introductory physics lab. We discuss how these results could help instructors and researchers better think about and design instruction that fosters the development of students' CT skills.
Abstract Type: Contributed Poster Presentation
Session Time: Poster Session III
Poster Number: 3.H2

Author/Organizer Information

Primary Contact: Abigail Flowers
Western Michigan University
Co-Author(s)
and Co-Presenter(s)
Diana Sachmpazidi (Western Michigan University), and Charles Henderson(Western Michigan University)