«On computational thinking as a universal skill»

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On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill
Jes´us Moreno-Le´on, Gregorio Robles, Marcos Rom´an-Gonz´alez
INTEF, Univ. Rey Juan Carlos, Univ. Nacional de Educaci´on a Distancia
(Madrid, Spain)
EDUCON 2018, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, April 19th 2018
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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(cc) 2018 Jes´us Moreno-Le´on, Gregorio Robles, Marcos Rom´an
Some rights reserved. This work licensed under Creative Commons
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California 94305, USA.
Some of the figures have been taken from the Internet
Source, and author and license if known, is specified.
For those images, fair use applies.
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Authors
Jes´us Moreno-Le´on Gregorio Robles Marcos Rom´an-Gonz´alez
INTEF URJC UNED
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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History of learning with computers
Figure: You are here!
Source: REaCT EU project proposal
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Great Principles of Computing
The Book Seven Principles
1 Information
2 Machines
3 Programming
4 Computation
5 Memory
6 Parallelism
7 Queuing
8 and Design
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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We still don’t know what Computational Thinking is...
Figure: The term CT is ambiguous and vague... but it is not computing!
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Is CT a new skill? (I)
Figure: Computational thinking: only 27% of its variance can be
explained by the four primary mental abilities (i.e., reasoning ability,
visual ability, verbal ability, and numerical ability).
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Is CT a new skill? (and II)
Figure: Computational thinking: only 51% of its variance can be
explained by the four primary mental abilities and non-cognitive
personality factors.
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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How to develop CT?
Unplugged activities
Unplugged activities
(no use of digital devices)
Programming
Several ways (arrow-based,
block-based, textual, connected
to physical world)
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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What should be the approach?
Figure: Code to learn vs. learn to code
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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We argue for “Code to learn”
Figure: Mitch Resnick (MIT Media Lab)
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Code to learn: Maths
Figure: Coraz´on de Mar´ıa school. Comparing the improvement between
pre- and post-tests of control and experimental groups.
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Code to learn: Social sciences
Figure: La Jota school. Comparing the improvement between pre- and
post-tests of control and experimental groups.
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Code to learn: Arts
Figure: La Inmaculada school. Comparing the improvement between pre-
and post-tests of control and experimental groups.
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Code to learn: Social learning
Figure: (l) Relationship of level of sociability with improvement in depth
for each time group. (r) Relationship of level of sociability on
improvement in breadth for each time group.
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Research in Progress: Art with 3-year old kids
Figure: A five year old student coding a programmable robot to develop
arts skills and learn about the painting Bathers at Asni`eres.
Background picture: Pixabay - Public domain
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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The quest for assessment
CT-test
diagnostic-summative
paper-and-pen test
Dr. Scratch
formative assessment tool
Other methods exist, such as Bebras
(which assesses skill transference)
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Takeaways
1 Computational Thinking is a different skill
2 We argue that focus should not be on programming, but on
(transversal) skills
3 We need more research on the impact of CT on other
subjects, including tools that facilitate this task
4 Social skills are also to be taken into account
5 We need better assessment tools
Background picture: flamingcow.co.uk
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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Learn more
Some references
1 J. Moreno-Le´on, G. Robles, M. & Roman-Gonz´alez. “Dr. Scratch:
Automatic Analysis of Scratch Projects to Assess and Foster
Computational Thinking”. RED. Revista de Educaci´on a Distancia,
15(46). 2015
2 J. Moreno-Le´on, G. Robles, and M. Rom´an-Gonz´alez. “Examining the
Relationship between Socialization and Improved Software Development
Skills in the Scratch Code Learning Environment.” Journal of Universal
Computer Science, 22(12), pp. 1533-1557. 2016
3 M. Rom´an-Gonz´alez, J.C. P´erez-Gonz´alez, J. Moreno-Le´on, G. & Robles.
“Extending the nomological network of computational thinking with
non-cognitive factors.” Computers in Human Behavior. 2018
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill

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On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill
Jes´us Moreno-Le´on, Gregorio Robles, Marcos Rom´an-Gonz´alez
INTEF, Univ. Rey Juan Carlos, Univ. Nacional de Educaci´on a Distancia
(Madrid, Spain)
EDUCON 2018, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, April 19th 2018
Moreno-Le´on et al. // jmorenol@gmail.com On Computational Thinking as a Universal Skill