ERIC Number: EJ1042423
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Mar
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1946-6226
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Crafts-Oriented Approach to Computing in High School: Introducing Computational Concepts, Practices, and Perspectives with Electronic Textiles
Kafai, Yasmin B.; Lee, Eunkyoung; Searle, Kristin; Fields, Deborah; Kaplan, Eliot; Lui, Debora
ACM Transactions on Computing Education, v14 n1 Article 1 Mar 2014
In this article, we examine the use of electronic textiles (e-textiles) for introducing key computational concepts and practices while broadening perceptions about computing. The starting point of our work was the design and implementation of a curriculum module using the LilyPad Arduino in a pre-AP high school computer science class. To understand students' learning, we analyzed the structure and functionality of their circuits and program code as well as their design approaches to making and debugging their e-textile creations and their views of computing. We also studied students' changing perceptions of computing. Our discussion addresses the need for and design of scaffolded challenges and the potential for using crafts materials and activities such as e-textiles for designing introductory courses that can broaden participation in computing.
Descriptors: High School Students, Scientific Concepts, Educational Practices, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Design, Learning Modules, Program Implementation, Computer Science Education, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Textiles Instruction, Prior Learning, Engineering Technology, Design Crafts, Student Projects, Student Attitudes, Interviews, Design Requirements, Science Activities, Creative Activities, Coding, Courseware, Computation, Hands on Science, Sewing Instruction
Association for Computing Machinery. 2 Penn Plaza Suite 701, New York, NY 10121. Tel: 800-342-6626; Tel: 212-626-0500; Fax: 212-944-1318; e-mail: acmhelp@acm.org; Web site: http://toce.acm.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 0855868; 0855886
Author Affiliations: N/A