How Computational Thinking Can Become a Sensemaking Practice for Preservice Teachers in an Engineering Course

Gözde Tosun, Amy Voss Farris

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of computational thinking (CT) in science education presents an important challenge for teacher preparation, as CT and closely related concepts now appear in science standards in many regions. There is broad agreement that computation is an epistemic practice in science and engineering (e.g., Nersessian, 2008). However, supporting preservice teachers' (PSTs) understanding of CT as sensemaking practices in engineering design remains underexplored. We present a qualitative exploratory study in which we aim to support PSTs' participation in and recognition of CT practices in engineering design contexts within a semester-long science and engineering course. We present two themes that inform how CT became a sensemaking practice in engineering: (1) the design of learning environments in which CT is reflexive (Harel & Papert, 1990) with PSTs' own experiences in engineering design and (2) the central role of contextualization and addressivity (Bahktin, 1986; Sengupta et al., 2021) in CT in engineering education.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationISLS Annual Meeting 2023
Subtitle of host publicationBuilding Knowledge and Sustaining our Community - 17th International Conference of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2023, Proceedings
EditorsPaulo Blikstein, Jan Van Aalst, Rita Kizito, Karen Brennan
PublisherInternational Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS)
Pages401-408
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781737330677
StatePublished - 2023
Event17th International Conference of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2023 - Montreal, Canada
Duration: Jun 10 2023Jun 15 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings of International Conference of the Learning Sciences, ICLS
ISSN (Print)1814-9316

Conference

Conference17th International Conference of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2023
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityMontreal
Period6/10/236/15/23

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Computer Science (miscellaneous)
  • Education

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