Teaching-Learning of Computational Thinking in K-12 Schools in India

Abstract

Schools in India have been offering computer studies as a subject for the past two decades. However, there is wide variation in the choice of topics, as well as treatment of a given topic. Typically, the focus is on usage- and skill-based content for specific applications. There is very little emphasis on important thinking skills of broad applicability, such as computational thinking and 21st century skills. This chapter describes a 10-year long project, called Computer Masti, to integrate thinking skills into computer studies. The project includes: curriculum across K-12 grades, textbooks that contain explicit chapters on thinking skills in each grade, and teacher training so that teachers gain proficiency in teaching this content. This chapter provides an overview of the rationale and content of the curriculum, examples of how computational thinking skills are addressed in the textbooks and learning activities, summary of its implementation in schools in India, and some results of evaluation studies.