Incorporating touch- based tablets into classroom activities: Fostering children's computational thinking through ipad integrated instruction

Abstract

This chapter explores the role of computational thinking in Science, Technology, Engineering, andMathematics (STEM) learning and proposes effective classroom strategies that foster computationalthinking. In a study conducted in an elementary after school classroom, the authors found that incorporatingComputational Perspective Practice (CPP) to STEM subjects fosters higher-level cognitive thinkingskills as well as learning in STEM domain. The 10 week-long after school program demonstrates positiveeffects of incorporating CPP to embodied activities in mathematic units prior to programming practice onlearning coding as well as mathematics. The chapter concludes with recommendations for interweavingphysical activities and a tablet-based programming application into elementary-level STEM classrooms.