Term
Fall 2019
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Jennifer Carlson and Feride Erku
Content Expert
Kristine Wobbema
Abstract
In today’s technology-filled world, employers seek applicants with strong computational thinking (CT) skills and computer science (CS) backgrounds. The demand for CT education reaches all the way to the elementary level. Wing (2006) states “computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just for computer scientists” (p. 33). Though researchers are continuing to define all aspects of CT, the major elements include: algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, decomposition, and abstraction. The digital age has also caused an increase in screen time, time children spend in front of a device, which has prompted studies on the negative physical and psychological effects it can have on children. Scoggin (2018) explains that school students are demonstrating a lack of social skills due to increased screen time in the classroom. As a response to this research, this capstone builds on relevant studies and provides a unit of lessons to answer the question: How can second-grade students learn algorithmic thinking and pattern recognition through collaborative learning? The detailed project includes cooperative activities and assessments to teach CT skills without the use of devices.
Project Type
Curriculum
Keywords
Teachers/ Teaching, Technology, Computational Thinking, Screen Time
Recommended Citation
Walth, Christine, "How can second-grade students learn algorithmic thinking and pattern recognition through collaborative learning?" (2019). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 399.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/399
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects