The purpose of this study is to examine the role of Minecraft-based coding activities on computational thinking (CT) of middle school students. In the study, CT was conceptualized so that it encapsulates not only the knowledge of computational concepts (e.g., loops and conditionals) but also the use of CT practices (e.g., testing and debugging).…

One of the aspects of programming that novices often struggle with is the understanding of abstract concepts, such as variables, loops, expressions, and especially Boolean operations. This paper aims to explore the effects of programming tools with different degrees of embodiment on learning Boolean operations in elementary school. To this end, 67…

Computational thinking (CT) is a fundamental skill and an analytical ability that children in the twenty-first century should develop. Students should begin to work with algorithmic problem-solving and computational methods in K-12. Drawing on a conceptual framework (IGGIA) that combines CT and problem-solving, this study designed and implemented…

Background and context: Historically underrepresented youth in computer science persistently experience barriers making it difficult to see themselves in the computer science field including computer science programs and curricula with consistent stereotypical references focused on competition, individualism, and male-associated topics…

The aim of this research is to determine the effects of Scratch and Alice tools and programming teaching practices on student engagement, reflective thinking and problem-solving skills and computational thinking (CT) comparatively. A quasi-experimental design was used in the research and patterns with pretest-posttest control group were chosen for…

This study aimed to determine the effect of teaching model developed on coding education on students' self-efficacy and attitude towards technology. The research was conducted on 64 students who were the 5th, 6th and 7th grades of a secondary school during the fall semester of 2018-2019 academic years. The research was designed in accordance with…

The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of unplugged coding activities carried out with middle school students on their computational thinking skills. This study employed nested-mixed design, which is a mixed research method; the data were supported by including the qualitative phase into an experimental study. In this frame, a group of…

The purpose of this study was to measure the impacts of mobile serious games on fifth grade students' attitudes towards "Information Technology and Software" course and understanding of programming concepts. For this purpose, a five weeks long study was conducted in a private primary school in Turkey with randomly selected 36 fifth grade…

Today, the essential skills and characteristics of individuals change within the frame of changing needs. The acquisition of these skills to individuals is not sufficient with traditional education and difficulties are experienced in adapting to the age. While gaining 21st century skills, conducting interdisciplinary studies is becoming importance…

Among educational researchers and practitioners, there is a growing interest in employing computer games for pedagogical purposes. The present research integrated a technology education class and a science class where 5th graders learned about environmental issues by designing games that involved environmental concepts. The purposes of this study…