STEM learning attitude predicts computational thinking skills among primary school students.

Computational thinking (CT) plays a vital role in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, whether students' learning attitude towards STEM is related to their CT skills remains unknown. Two studies were conducted to address this knowledge gap. In Study 1, we v...

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Publicado en:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 346 - 359
Autores principales: Sun, Lihui, Hu, Linlin, Yang, Weipeng, Zhou, Danhua, Wang, Xiaoqian
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Apr2021
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      issn: 02664909
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      dt: Apr2021
      vid: 37
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        10.1111/jcal.12493
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        atl: STEM learning attitude predicts computational thinking skills among primary school students.
      aug:
        au:
          Sun, Lihui
          Hu, Linlin
          Yang, Weipeng
          Zhou, Danhua
          Wang, Xiaoqian
        affil: School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354,, China
      sug:
        subj:
          Students, Elementary
          Student Attitudes
          Learning Methods
          Problem Solving
          Instrument Validation
          Human
          Schools, Elementary
          Funding Source
          China
          Factor Analysis
          Male
          Female
          Sex Factors
          Internal Consistency
          Test-Retest Reliability
          Scales
          Descriptive Statistics
          Coefficient alpha
          Data Analysis Software
          Unpaired T-Tests
          One-Way Analysis of Variance
          Male
          Female
      ab: Computational thinking (CT) plays a vital role in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, whether students' learning attitude towards STEM is related to their CT skills remains unknown. Two studies were conducted to address this knowledge gap. In Study 1, we validated a newly developed STEM learning attitude scale among a sample of Chinese primary school students (N = 489). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis results revealed that the scale which consisted of three factors (mathematics, science and information technology) could sufficiently measure primary school students' STEM learning attitude in the current sample. In Study 2, we explored the association between students' STEM learning attitude and their CT skills. Evidence revealed that learning attitude towards STEM significantly predicted CT skills. We also found that girls had a more positive learning attitude towards STEM than boys, and the fourth grade might be the key period for the development of CT skills. Implications for promoting primary school students' STEM learning and CT skills were also discussed. Lay Description: What is currently known about this topic: Computational thinking (CT) plays a more and more important role in K‐12 education.STEM has become a natural field for integrating CT into classroom.Students' learning attitude determines their performance and achievements.CT is influenced by personal and situational factors. What this paper adds: Reliability and validity of the STEM learning attitude scale are psychometrically good.Students' STEM learning attitude can positively predict their CT skills.Girls may have more potential for the cultivation of CT in STEM education.The fourth grade may be the key period for the development of CT skills. Implications for practice and/or policy: Promoting CT skills in STEM education by improving students' learning attitude.Adopting teaching methods according to students' psychological and cognitive characteristics.Grasping the key stage of fourth grade to develop students' CT skills.Encouraging and protecting girls' interests and ideas in STEM education.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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