Recognizing computational thinking patterns

Abstract

End-user game design tools are effective in motivating and exposing students with no prior programming experience to computer science. However, while there is good evidence that these environments are effective motivators, the question remains what do students actually learn? For our purposes, using AgentSheets, we would like to know if students can apply the knowledge obtained from programming games to creating science simulations. Specifically, we want to better understand if students are able to recognize Computational Thinking Patterns (CTP) from their game programming experience. Computational Thinking Patterns are abstract programming patterns that enable agent interactions not only in games but also in science simulations. Students and teachers who participated in a game design summer institute were administered a Computational Thinking Pattern Quiz (CTP Quiz). This quiz tested the participants' ability to recognize and understand patterns in a context removed from game programming. We found that participants, for the most part, were able to understand and recognize the patterns in a variety of contexts.

Defining a New 21st Century Skill-Computational Thinking: Concepts and Trends

“…(Barr, Harrison & Conery, 2011;Basawapatna et al, 2011;Berland & Wilensky, 2015;Bers, 2010;ISTE & CSTA, 2011;Denning, 2012;Furber, 2012;Guzdial, 2008;Kafai, 2016;Kilpeläinen, 2010;Lu & Fletscher, 2009;NAACE, 2014;Papert, 1996;Snapp & Neumann, 2015;Williamson, 2015;Williamson, 2016) ies. Basawapatna et al, 2011;Berland & Wilensky, 2015;Bers, 2010;ISTE & CSTA, 2011;Furber, 2012;Grover & Pea, 2013;Guzdial, 2008;Kilpeläinen, 2010;Lu & Fletscher, 2009;National Research Council, 2012;Papert, 1996;Park & Jeon, 2015;Wilensky & Reisman, 2006;Williamson, 2016;Wing, 2006) 1.4. Data organization 1 0 9 8 18 (Barr, Harrison & Conery, 2011;Berland & Wilensky, 2015;Bers, 2010;Guzdial, 2008;Kafai & Burke, 2014;Kilpeläinen, 2010;Papert, 1996;National Research Council, 2010;Sengupta et al, 2013;…”

“…Data organization 1 0 9 8 18 (Barr, Harrison & Conery, 2011;Berland & Wilensky, 2015;Bers, 2010;Guzdial, 2008;Kafai & Burke, 2014;Kilpeläinen, 2010;Papert, 1996;National Research Council, 2010;Sengupta et al, 2013;Williamson, 2016) 1.5. Basawapatna et al, 2011;Berland & Wilensky, 2015;Guzdial, 2008;Williamson, 2016) (Barr & Stephenson, 2011;Bundy, 2007;Denning & Freeman, 2009;Denning, 2012;Grover & Pea, 2013;Guzdial, 2008;Jacobson & Wilensky, 2006;Lu & Fletscher, 2009;Miller & Settle, 2011;National Research Council, 2012;Papert, 1996;Snapp & Neumann, 2015;Williamson, 2016;Wing, 2006;Wolz et al, 2011;Yadav et al, 2014) 2.2. Programming processes 0 0 9 4 13 (Aho, 2012;Basawapatna et al, 2011;Denning, 2012;Kafai, 2016;Lu & Fletscher, 2009;Wing, 2008) ies As observed in Table 2, CT was defined mostly within the context of problem solving, technology and thinking.…”

“…Hence, it was stated that CT included different thinking systems such as analytical thinking, mathematical thinking, engineering thinking, scientific thinking and algorithmic thinking (Basawapatna et al, 2011;Chen, 2009;Computing at School, 2014;diSessa, 2001;Guzdial, 2008;Hayles, 2012;Jenkins, 2015;Papert, 1996;Park & Jeon, 2015;Williamson, 2015;Wing, 2006). It could be argued that this fact emphasized the research and investigation-based structures prevalent in different fields (Papert, 1980;Wing, 2006).…”

Moving Beyond Syntax: Lessons from 20 Years of Blocks Programing in AgentSheets

“…In the case of AgentSheets, validation has gone much further. Related to cognitive challenges, the Computational Thinking Pattern Analysis research instrument [44][45][46][47][48] has shown that users, by building games with AgentSheets, can acquire important Computational Thinking abstractions, which they can later leverage to build scientific simulations [49]. Howland has explored similar Computational Thinking transfer in the context of the FLIP gameprogramming tool [50].…”

“…As the main tools of the Scalable Game Design curriculum [51,86], AgentSheets and AgentCubes include the mechanisms described below. They are being used by students around the world [87,88] and have been tested with respect to cognitive [47] and affective challenges [3].…”