NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1329916
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Apr
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2199-3246
EISSN: N/A
The Use of Coding Clubs to Develop Middle-School Students' Spatial Reasoning Abilities
Dickson, Brandon A.; Kotsopoulos, Donna; Harris, Lauren
Digital Experiences in Mathematics Education, v8 n1 p50-69 Apr 2022
In this research, we explore the potential for computational thinking (CT) to benefit the spatial reasoning abilities of thirty-three middle-school students (aged 11-13) in grades 6 and 7. There is an increasing focus on the explicit development of spatial reasoning throughout the mathematics curriculum, such as geometry, as students' success in mathematics is largely tied to their spatial reasoning abilities. CT provides a method through which numerous mathematics concepts can be taught or explored, but also offers an avenue through which spatial reasoning skill can be developed. We used the block programming website Scratch and programmable robotics in weekly 'coding clubs' run in two different elementary school classrooms for 10 weeks each. Lessons were structured to develop students' CT abilities and mathematical reasoning, as well as being tied to their mathematics units such as geometry and number sense. Pre- and post-test data measured student spatial reasoning. Qualitative data in the form of student journal responses and teacher and researcher observations further illustrate incidents of learning which benefitted students' spatial reasoning abilities. Our results found improvement over time. Implications for classroom instruction and further research will be discussed.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Grade 7
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A