DISSECT: An experiment in infusing computational thinking in K-12 science curricula

Author

Arraki, K. ; Blair, K. ; Burgert, T. ; Greenling, J. ; Haebe, J. ; Lee, G. ; Peel, A. ; Szczepanski, V. ; Pontelli, E. ; Hug, Sarah

Author_Institution

Depts. of Comput. Sci., Astron., Biol., Electr. Eng., & Psychol., New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM, USA

fYear

2014

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

9

Abstract

This paper summarizes the design and preliminary outcomes from the deployment of the DISSECT (Discovering SciencE through Computational Thinking) project. The project has two primary objectives. On one hand, it aims to revitalize the teaching of traditional K-12 science concepts through the introduction of tools and concepts drawn from the field of computing, enabling the use of interactive and constructive methods to exemplify and explore scientific materials. On the other hand, the project explores how the teaching of sciences could become a vehicle to engage students in the learning of computational thinking, stimulating their interest towards this discipline and providing them with a baseline preparation to facilitate access and success in more formal computer science courses.

Keywords

STEM; computer science education; educational courses; educational institutions; teaching; DISSECT project deployment; K-12 science concept teaching; K-12 science curricula; computational thinking learning; computing field; discovering science-through-computational thinking project; formal computer science courses; interactive constructive methods; project objectives; sciences teaching; scientific materials; Biology; Computed tomography; Computer science; Educational institutions; Fellows; Problem-solving; Computational Thinking; Graduate Fellows;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), 2014 IEEE

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/FIE.2014.7044262

Filename

7044262