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Abstract Due to mandates for the inclusion of engineering and computer science standards for K-6 schools nationwide, there is a need to understand how teacher educators can help develop preservice teachers’ (PSTs’) teaching self-efficacy in these areas. To provide experience teaching and learning engineering and coding, PSTs in an instructional technology course were partnered with undergraduate engineering students in an electromechanical systems course to teach robotics lessons to fifth graders (10–11 year olds) over Zoom. A multi-case study approach explored teaching self-efficacy development for three preservice teachers during their robotics project experiences using multiple data sources, including surveys, reflections, interviews, and Zoom recordings, which were examined to identify how the project's social and intrapersonal context influenced the development of each PST’s teaching self-efficacy for engineering and coding. The PSTs gained teaching self-efficacy through all four sources of teaching self-efficacy, although not all PSTs benefited from all four types, nor did they benefit equally. These sources also influenced the PSTs’ intention to integrate engineering and coding into their future classrooms. This study demonstrates the potential of providing PSTs with the opportunity to teach robotics to children during their teacher preparation programs to support the development of their teaching self-efficacy for engineering and coding. When conducted in the context of a college course, such opportunities can be thoughtfully structured to leverage positive interactions with peers and elementary students and to take advantage of low-stakes environments, like afterschool clubs, offering PSTs settings rich in sources of self-efficacy information.
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Introducing Coding into Teacher Education: An Interdisciplinary Robotics Experience for Education and Engineering Students
Despite nationwide mandates to integrate computer science into P-6 curriculum, most P-6 preservice teachers (PSTs) are not exposed to coding or computational thinking during their professional preparation, and are unprepared to teach these topics. This study, conducted as a part of an NSF-funded project, explores a teacher preparation model designed to increase PSTs’ coding knowledge and coding self-efficacy. PSTs in an educational technology course partnered with engineering undergraduates (EUs) in a computational methods course and worked side-by-side on robotics activities to develop skill and confidence with basic programming concepts and block coding. Students utilized experience gained from these interdisciplinary partnerships to lead robotics activities with fifth and sixth grade students (FSGs) in an after-school technology club. Findings from quantitative studies suggest that the implementation of the approach resulted in a significant increase in both PSTs’ coding knowledge and coding self-efficacy. Qualitative studies revealed that most PSTs’ and EUs’ perceived value of the project was positive.
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- PAR ID:
- 10189272
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1303-1310
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract: Nationwide K–6 engineering and coding standards have made it increasingly important to prepare elementary preservice teachers (PSTs) to teach these subjects confidently and effectively. Robotics, which combines coding and engineering, provides a rich context for developing PSTs’ expertise and self-efficacy. This study builds on prior work in which PSTs in an instructional technology course collaborated with undergraduate engineering students to co-teach robotics lessons to fifth graders. Using a multiple-embedded case study approach, we examine how the interactions and teaching roles within these partnerships influenced PSTs’ teaching self-efficacy. Drawing on reflections, lesson recordings, surveys, and interviews, we present the cases of three PSTs—Lisa, Madison, and Kayla—who experienced varying levels of partner support and student engagement. Lisa and Madison were both compelled to lead robotics instruction due to perceived lack of support from their engineering partners, yet they experienced contrasting outcomes: Lisa struggled with disengaged students and malfunctioning robots, which diminished her self-efficacy, while Madison's success with highly engaged students bolstered hers. Kayla, in contrast, developed self-efficacy over time through a productive partnership with a supportive engineering student. These cases highlight the complex relationship between partner dynamics, teaching roles, perceived success, and self-efficacy development. Implications for supporting PSTs in engineering-integrated experiences are discussed.more » « less
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As a result of the increased inclusion of engineering and computer science standards for K-6 schools nationwide, there is a need to better understand how teacher educators can help develop preservice teachers’ (PSTs’) teaching self-efficacy in these areas. Ed+gineering provides novel opportunities for PSTs to experience teaching and learning engineering and coding content by building COVID-companion robots. Growing evidence supports robotics as a powerful approach to STEM learning for PSTs. In this study, Ed+gineering examined three cases to explore this overarching question: In what ways did PSTs’ virtual robotics project experience develop their self-efficacy for teaching engineering and coding? Three PST cases were examined, within the context of their work with other team members (i.e., undergraduate engineering student(s), 5th graders). To understand each of three PSTs’ virtual robotics project experiences, multiple data sources were collected and analyzed which includes mid- and post-semester CATME, end of course short-answer reflections, follow up interviews (including a modified Big Five personality inventory), and Zoom session recordings. Elementary PSTs Brenda, Erica, and Sarah experienced various levels of commitment and engagement in their five Zoom sessions. These factors, along with other personal and external influences, contributed to Bandura’s four identified sources of self-efficacy. This study examines these contributing factors to create an initial working model of how PSTs develop teaching self-efficacy. In this conference session, science teacher educators will learn more about this model and pedagogical decisions that seemed to influence PST’s self-efficacy for teaching engineering and computer science.more » « less
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Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between the personal traits and computational thinking skills of second graders within the context of robotics activities. Design/methodology/approach Through literature review, a research model and hypotheses were tested with 122 second graders after robotic activities. Findings The hypothesized model showed that learning preference, intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy were the main predictors of coding achievement and computational thinking skills, while no direct relationship was found between learning preference, intrinsic or extrinsic motivation. The final path analysis revealed that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation predict self-efficacy, self-efficacy predicts coding achievement and coding achievement predicts computational thinking skills. Another important finding was the strong impact of self-efficacy on coding achievement, as well as computational thinking skills. Results are interpreted with reference to implications for potential methods of improving computational thinking skills when using robotics in the lower grades in elementary schools. Research limitations/implications This study not only examined these relationships but also proposed, tested and built a research model containing a wide range of personal traits based on path analysis and multiple regression analysis, which, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, has not been investigated in the current literature. Practical implications As reflected in the final research model, self-efficacy played an important role in impacting second grader’s coding achievement and computational thinking skills. Originality/value Few studies have investigated the various relationships in the context of robotics instruction in elementary schools as in this study. Given the increasing popularity of robotics education in elementary schools, the re-examination and identification of the pivotal role of self-efficacy in predicting second graders’ learning of coding and computational thinking skills have important implications for the implementation of robotics education.more » « less
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