ERIC Number: EJ1459396
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1539-1523
EISSN: EISSN-1945-0818
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Bridging Cultures and Computing: Exploring the Relationship between Appalachian Problem Solving and Computational Thinking
Journal of Research on Technology in Education, v57 n1 p248-264 2025
Students in Appalachia have a heritage of problem-solving. We explore how computational thinking (CT) relates to and complements this heritage by analyzing 34 local ingenuity stories, and perspectives from 35 community members about the relevance of CT. We found the two problem-solving approaches are meaningfully different, but can be used in concert. Since equating them could contribute to confusion and cultural erasure, researchers and educators bringing CT as a problem solving strategy into rural and other resourceful cultures must clarify what they mean by "CT helps problem solving." In these cultures, CT skills are better introduced as new tools to expand students' problem-solving toolkits, rather than tools that are identical to or better than those traditionally used in their culture.
Descriptors: Problem Solving, Computation, Thinking Skills, Area Studies, Rural Areas, Cultural Background, Local Norms, Community Attitudes, Community Leaders, Cultural Maintenance, Teaching Methods, Concept Formation, Academic Standards, Elementary Secondary Education, Technology Education, Culturally Relevant Education, Cultural Context
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Kentucky
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1923314; 2219401
Author Affiliations: N/A