ERIC Number: EJ1400120
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 34
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1056-7879
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Available Date: N/A
Can Preschoolers Learn Computational Thinking and Coding Skills with ScratchJr? A Systematic Literature Review
International Journal of Educational Reform, v33 n1 p28-61 2024
Computational Thinking (CT) and the understanding of how programs are being executed is internationally acknowledging as a necessity for today's students and citizens of tomorrow. Despite the multifaceted nature of CT, the introduction of CT and associate concepts such as coding is regarded as developmental acceptable for preschool and kindergarten children. For a decade, there has been a focus on educational reform in the form of educational apps. For young children, an influx of mobile apps offering various interfaces and styles promote themselves as having educational value to introduce children aged 5-7 to essential CT, coding, and problem-solving skills. On the contrary, little is known about the educational value of these apps. The fast pace at which developers produce these apps and the breadth of the available apps have gone beyond what it is reasonable for researchers and experts in the domain to evaluate. This article presents a literature review on how the ScratchJr app affects young children's CT, coding, and general literacy skills. The literature review includes 18 studies. The main conclusion is that although ScratchJr is not a panacea, it seems to be a helpful app that positively affects children's CT and coding skills.
Descriptors: Preschool Children, Computation, Thinking Skills, Programming, Literature Reviews, Computer Science Education, Early Childhood Education, Electronic Learning, Educational Technology
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
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Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A