Infusing computational thinking across disciplines: Reflections & lessons learned

Lori Pollock, Chrystalla Mouza, Kevin R. Guidry, Kathleen Pusecker

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

Abstract

In this work, we describe our effort to develop, pilot, and evaluate a model for infusing computational thinking into undergraduate curricula across a variety of disciplines using multiple methods that previously have been individually tried and tested, including: (1) multiple pathways of computational thinking, (2) faculty professional development, (3) undergraduate peer mentors, and (4) formative assessment. We present pilot instantiations of computational thinking integration in three different disciplines including sociology, mathematics and music. We also present our professional development approach, which is based on faculty support rather than a co-teaching model. Further, we discuss formative assessment during the pilot implementation, including data focusing on undergraduate students' understanding and dispositions towards computational thinking. Finally, we reflect on what worked, what did not work and why, and identify lessons learned. Our work is relevant to higher education institutions across the nation interested in preparing students who can utilize computational principles to address discipline-specific problems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSIGCSE 2019 - Proceedings of the 50th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages435-441
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781450358903
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 22 2019
Externally publishedYes
Event50th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, SIGCSE 2019 - Minneapolis, United States
Duration: Feb 27 2019Mar 2 2019

Conference

Conference50th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, SIGCSE 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMinneapolis
Period2/27/193/2/19

Keywords

  • Computational thinking
  • CS principles
  • Undergraduate CS education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Computer Science
  • Education

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