Fostering Computational Thinking: Individual Factors and Mutual Engagement in Middle‐School Pair Programming.

Background: Computational thinking (CT) is an essential skill for preparing the younger generation to succeed in an AI‐driven world, with pair programming emerging as a widely used approach to foster these skills. However, the role of individual factors and mutual engagement in shaping CT skills wit...

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Publicado en:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 1 - 22
Autores principales: Xu, Fan, Correia, Ana‐Paula
Formato: computer program equations & formulas pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Dec2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2025
      vid: 41
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        10.1111/jcal.70147
        189524206
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        atl: Fostering Computational Thinking: Individual Factors and Mutual Engagement in Middle‐School Pair Programming.
      aug:
        au:
          Xu, Fan
          Correia, Ana‐Paula
        affil: University of New Mexico, Department of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy, College of Education and Human Science, Albuquerque New Mexico,, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Students, Middle School Psychosocial Factors
          Software Education
          Programming Languages Education
          Collaboration
          Student Attitudes Evaluation
          Thinking Methods
          Skill Acquisition
          Interpersonal Relations
          Human
          United States
          Male
          Female
          Adolescence
          Schools, Middle
          Summated Rating Scaling
          Regression
          Data Analysis Software
          Social Values
          Social Attitudes
          Cognition
          Questionnaires
          Scales
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Computational thinking (CT) is an essential skill for preparing the younger generation to succeed in an AI‐driven world, with pair programming emerging as a widely used approach to foster these skills. However, the role of individual factors and mutual engagement in shaping CT skills within pair programming remains underexplored, particularly in middle school contexts. Objectives: This study investigates how individuals' attitudes towards programming and collaboration, as well as individuals' prior computer and programming experience, influence CT skills in pair programming. Given the collaborative nature of pair programming, this research extends beyond individual outcomes to explore the mutual influence between partners, examining how these factors shape both individual and partner CT skills. Additionally, it evaluates mutual engagement as a moderator of these relationships. Methods: Eighty‐four eighth‐grade students participated in pair programming sessions using P5.js, a creative coding platform. Through the Actor‐Partner Interdependence Model and dyadic data analysis, we evaluated the actor and partner effects of each individual factor and their interactions with mutual engagement. Results and Conclusions: Students' CT scores were positively associated with their attitudes towards programming and collaboration, but not with prior computer or programming experience. Their attitudes towards collaboration and programming frequency also positively influenced partners' CT performance. Mutual engagement moderates the actor effect of prior experience and the partner effect of social value (a subcomponent of attitudes towards programming) on CT performance. These findings enhance understanding of the social and cognitive dynamics in pair programming and provide actionable insights for designing activities that foster CT among young learners.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        computer program
        equations & formulas
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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