Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in Mathematics

In recent years, the inclusion of computational thinking in education has become very important. This is a response to the needs of the evolution of our society and the skills demanded in students to obtain practical and integrated training. For this reason, the educational inclusion of these types...

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Main Authors: Álvaro Molina-Ayuso, Natividad Adamuz-Povedano, Rafael Bracho-López, Manuel Torralbo-Rodríguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/12/899
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author Álvaro Molina-Ayuso
Natividad Adamuz-Povedano
Rafael Bracho-López
Manuel Torralbo-Rodríguez
author_facet Álvaro Molina-Ayuso
Natividad Adamuz-Povedano
Rafael Bracho-López
Manuel Torralbo-Rodríguez
author_sort Álvaro Molina-Ayuso
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the inclusion of computational thinking in education has become very important. This is a response to the needs of the evolution of our society and the skills demanded in students to obtain practical and integrated training. For this reason, the educational inclusion of these types of practices, strategies, and skills has been the subject of study in recent years. However, it is equally important to prepare and analyse the initial training of future teachers in this area. This research paper presents an empirical experience in which the degree of development of skills associated with computational thinking in preservice primary teachers is examined. For this purpose, programming practices with Scratch were carried out with a total of 149 students of primary education university degrees as part of their training in mathematics education. An experiment was designed for a control group and an experimental group with initial and final measurements using a validated diagnostic instrument consisting of 30 questions associated with computational concepts and their application: a computational thinking test. The result of the experience is positive, as a more significant improvement was observed in the experimental group, which was also accompanied by the impressions, provided by participants, that point in a positive, useful, and practical direction in terms of the development of this type of educational practice being relevant enough to introduce to the teaching and learning process of mathematics.
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spelling doaj.art-24aa3d93985c4a99bd4a552a70bc2b452023-11-24T14:28:05ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022022-12-01121289910.3390/educsci12120899Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in MathematicsÁlvaro Molina-Ayuso0Natividad Adamuz-Povedano1Rafael Bracho-López2Manuel Torralbo-Rodríguez3Departamento de Matemáticas, IES Blas Infante, 14007 Córdoba, SpainDepartamento de Matemáticas, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, SpainDepartamento de Matemáticas, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, SpainDepartamento de Matemáticas, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, SpainIn recent years, the inclusion of computational thinking in education has become very important. This is a response to the needs of the evolution of our society and the skills demanded in students to obtain practical and integrated training. For this reason, the educational inclusion of these types of practices, strategies, and skills has been the subject of study in recent years. However, it is equally important to prepare and analyse the initial training of future teachers in this area. This research paper presents an empirical experience in which the degree of development of skills associated with computational thinking in preservice primary teachers is examined. For this purpose, programming practices with Scratch were carried out with a total of 149 students of primary education university degrees as part of their training in mathematics education. An experiment was designed for a control group and an experimental group with initial and final measurements using a validated diagnostic instrument consisting of 30 questions associated with computational concepts and their application: a computational thinking test. The result of the experience is positive, as a more significant improvement was observed in the experimental group, which was also accompanied by the impressions, provided by participants, that point in a positive, useful, and practical direction in terms of the development of this type of educational practice being relevant enough to introduce to the teaching and learning process of mathematics.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/12/899computational thinkingmathematicsprimary educationscratch
spellingShingle Álvaro Molina-Ayuso
Natividad Adamuz-Povedano
Rafael Bracho-López
Manuel Torralbo-Rodríguez
Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in Mathematics
Education Sciences
computational thinking
mathematics
primary education
scratch
title Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in Mathematics
title_full Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in Mathematics
title_fullStr Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in Mathematics
title_full_unstemmed Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in Mathematics
title_short Introduction to Computational Thinking with Scratch for Teacher Training for Spanish Primary School Teachers in Mathematics
title_sort introduction to computational thinking with scratch for teacher training for spanish primary school teachers in mathematics
topic computational thinking
mathematics
primary education
scratch
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/12/899
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AT rafaelbracholopez introductiontocomputationalthinkingwithscratchforteachertrainingforspanishprimaryschoolteachersinmathematics
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