Share Paper: Integrating Computational Thinking into Teacher Education through an Unplugged Robot Design Lesson

  1. Jillian Powers, Florida Atlantic University, United States
  2. Mohammad Azhar, Borough of Manhattan Community College, The City University of New York, United States
  3. Lisa Gustinelli, St. Vincent Ferrer School, United States
Thursday, April 9 3:30-3:45 PM Room 5 - https://tinyurl.com/room5site

Abstract: This paper presents an introductory computational thinking (CT) lesson that can be implemented into teacher education curricula. The lesson is the result of a collaboration between computer science and education faculty from two universities. The CT lesson is a robot design activity that can easily be implemented for learners with no prior background in CT using only paper and pencil materials. An example of a robot design that was created in an undergraduate teacher education class is shared, and directions for future research involving this activity are discussed.