ERIC Number: EJ1417067
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0737-5328
EISSN: N/A
How Teachers from Underrepresented Schools Experienced a Blended Professional Development Program on Computer Science and Game Design
Selçuk Dogan; Mete Akcaoglu
Teacher Education Quarterly, v51 n1 p76-103 2024
Learning computer science (CS) is increasingly becoming a necessary component of K-12 education, but in most cases, teachers do not have either the essential knowledge to teach or a curriculum to follow. In this article, we analyze the outcomes from a yearlong, blended professional development (PD) program to teach teachers game design and coding skills, and we codevelop a middle school curriculum. Using a mixed-methods design, this study presents the findings as we investigate how teachers experienced the PD program. Our findings show that the teachers' level of engagement differed for various reasons, such as challenges related to time, motivation, and interest. We identified a high-engagement group who developed a deep understanding of coding knowledge and engaged in the PD activities more. We also identified a low-engagement group who failed to attend most activities despite mentioning generic interests. We provide an explanation why these teachers might have varied in terms of their engagement and offer how "data" can be used to predict engagement levels and as a diagnostic tool (e.g., lacked specificity in explaining CS concepts in reflections). We recommend adding motivational strategies and better tracking and monitoring mechanisms for better engagement and PD design considerations for online and blended learning for teachers.
Descriptors: Disproportionate Representation, Blended Learning, Professional Development, Computer Science, Computer Games, Coding, Curriculum Development, Middle School Teachers, Learner Engagement
Caddo Gap Press. 3145 Geary Boulevard PMB 275, San Francisco, CA 94118. Tel: 415-666-3012; Fax: 415-666-3552; e-mail: caddogap@aol.com; Web site: http://www.caddogap.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2027948