This content will become publicly available on July 31, 2025
- Award ID(s):
- 2331742
- PAR ID:
- 10557842
- Editor(s):
- Lindgren, R; Asino, T I; Kyza, E A; Looi, C K; Keifert, D T; Suárez, E
- Publisher / Repository:
- International Society of the Learning Sciences [ISLS[
- Date Published:
- ISSN:
- 1819-0138
- ISBN:
- 979-8-9906980-0-0
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 2255-2256
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Design-based learning, teacher learning, professional learning, computational thinking
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- Buffalo, NY
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
Artificial intelligence is impacting society on a very large scale and should be included in K-12 educational content in some capacity to provide meaningful STEM experiences. Computer vision (a field of research that heavily leverages artificial intelligence) was emphasized in professional development for in-service teachers. The teachers received two to three weeks of training across two states (Arizona and Georgia) that emphasized image processing, computer vision, and machine learning using visual media. Personal Construct Theory (Kelly, 1955) was used to map changes in thinking using hierarchical cluster analysis. The research question was: How did in-service teachers’ thinking regarding artificial intelligence change after partaking in remote professional development emphasizing computer vision? Dendrograms and descriptive statistics showed changes in thinking for in-service teachers in relation to artificial intelligence. There were four clusters in both the pre- and post-professional development dendrograms, but constructs shifted within clusters. Implications for practice and research are discussed.more » « less
-
Artificial intelligence is impacting society on a very large scale and should be included in K-12 educational content in some capacity to provide meaningful STEM experiences. Computer vision (a field of research that heavily leverages artificial intelligence) was emphasized in professional development for in-service teachers. The teachers received two to three weeks of training across two states (Arizona and Georgia) that emphasized image processing, computer vision, and machine learning using visual media. Personal Construct Theory (Kelly, 1955) was used to map changes in thinking using hierarchical cluster analysis. The research question was: How did in-service teachers’ thinking regarding artificial intelligence change after partaking in remote professional development emphasizing computer vision? Dendrograms and descriptive statistics showed changes in thinking for in-service teachers in relation to artificial intelligence. There were four clusters in both the pre- and post-professional development dendrograms, but constructs shifted within clusters. Implications for practice and research are discussed.more » « less
-
In this brief paper, we will share preliminary results of a study of how elementary-school teachers take up computational thinking (CT) ideas and incorporate them into their mathematics and science teaching. We describe the teachers’ school contexts, the professional development experiences in which they engaged, and our preliminary analyses of how they used computational thinking within their enacted lessons. In brief, the seven teachers in this study exhibited three patterns of implementation: (1) using computational thinking to guide their own planning and thinking; (2) using computational thinking to structure their lessons; and (3) presenting computational thinking concepts to students as general problem solving strategies.more » « less
-
Although the professional learning opportunities for teachers to introduce computational thinking (CT) into K-12 education are increasing, it remains challenging to support teachers in integrating CT into their everyday classroom practices. In this study, we have identified six elementary teachers who showed evident eagerness or reluctance in a CT integration professional learning experience. We further analyzed the emerging verbal and non-verbal participation patterns of eagerness and reluctance and the challenges teachers have encountered in the professional learning experience. The results shed light on how to better understand and address the challenges in creating sustainable and effective professional learning.more » « less
-
Abstract This paper reports on the first iteration of the Computational Thinking Summer Institute, a month‐long programme in which high school teachers co‐designed computationally enhanced mathematics and science curricula with researchers. The co‐design process itself was a constructionist learning experience for teachers resulting in constructionist curricula to be used in their own classrooms. We present three case studies to illustrate different ways teachers and researchers divided the labour of co‐design and the implications of these different co‐design styles for teacher learning and classroom enactment. Specifically, some teachers programmed their own computational tools, while others helped to conceptualise them but left the construction to their co‐design partners. Results indicate that constructionist co‐design is a promising dual approach to curriculum and professional development but that sometimes these two goals are in tension. Most teachers gained considerable confidence and skills in computational thinking, but sometimes the pressure to finish curriculum development during the institute led teachers to leave construction of computational tools to their co‐design partners, limiting their own opportunities for computational learning.
Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic?
Computational tools can support constructionist science and math learning by making powerful ideas tangible.
Supporting teachers to learn computational thinking and to use constructionist pedagogies is challenging.
What this paper adds?
Constructionist co‐design is a promising approach to simultaneously support curriculum development and professional development, but there are tensions to navigate in trying to accomplish both goals simultaneously.
Implications for practice and/or policy
Designers of professional development should consider constructionist co‐design as an approach but should be aware of potential tensions and prepare for them.