This paper presents a training program for teachers and the procedures for its evaluation in the domain of computational thinking, programming and robotics in basic education. This training was conducted within the scope of Project KML II-Laboratory of programming and robotics technologies and learning for preschool and primary school (1st CEB) and is expected to contribute for two of the project's main outcomes: conceive a training plan to include in the higher education of educators and teachers of the 1st ECB and the creation of a MOOC for initial and continuous training of these professionals. The training, with 50 hours of total workload, was developed in a blended learning format, including face-to-face and online sessions (25 hours each). The online sessions were organized into synchronous and asynchronous activities, including autonomous working moments, to perform individual activities. The theoretical references that support this work have their origins in the studies on distance education (EaD), namely in the developments provided by the designated 3rd generation of EaD in which computer-mediated communication has allowed the emergence of new pedagogical scenarios giving rise to new training modalities either fully online or in blended learning format. The training evaluation questionnaire aims to explore the key points that determined the organization of the course and aims to evaluate the level of satisfaction and the opinion of the trainees about the different components of the training, as well as gather information that may contribute to the design of new course in a MOOC format. The questionnaire was designed considering the following dimensions: characterization of respondents and previous experience, satisfaction with training, perception of the learning and involvement in training, perception of the practical application of training, criticism and suggestions for improvement. The questionnaire, in the context of this research, will be an essential source of information for the team's decision-making on the appropriate format for the MOOC to be developed in the future and which constitutes one of the project's final objectives with a view to broadening the access of teachers in Portugal to knowledge on the subject under study.
This paper presents two case studies under development within project "KML II -Laboratory of technologies and learning of programming and robotics for pre-school and elementary school". Using a multiple case study approach, KMLII is working with educators and elementary school teachers towards the development of learning activities that integrate computational thinking, coding and robotics with the curriculum. Participants are experimenting with both unplugged and plugged activities, including coding with ScratchJr and Scratch (only for elementary schools). Data is being collected from educators/teachers' logs and through remote observation. Results from case studies will inform the development of a framework for the introduction of computational thinking, programming, and robotics in the training of undergraduate and in-service educators and elementary school teachers and the design of a competence profile for education professionals in these areas.
Coding is increasingly recognized as a new literacy that should be encouraged at a young age. This understanding has recontextualized computer science as a compulsory school subject and has informed several developmentally appropriate approaches to computation, including for preschool children. This study focuses on the introduction of three approaches to computation in preschool (3–6 years), specifically computational thinking, programming, and robotics, from a cross-curricular perspective. This paper presents preliminary findings from one of the case studies currently being developed as part of project KML II—Laboratory of Technologies and Learning of Programming and Robotics for Preschool and Elementary School. The purpose of the KML II project is to characterize how approaches to computation can be integrated into preschool and elementary education, across different knowledge domains. The conclusions point to “expression and communication” as an initial framework for computational approaches in preschool, but also to multidisciplinary and more creative methodological activities that offer greater scope for the development of digital and computational competences, as well as for personal and social development.
Today's children are growing up in a complex technological reality, which, in turn, is pushing for the integration of digital technologies in educational contexts. Hence, it becomes necessary to explore how more recent educational approaches to technology can be inclusively integrated into education. Among these innovative approaches are the integration of computational thinking, programming and robotics both in preschool and basic education. Considering the referential of key competences for the current 21th century [1], early training in these areas will contribute to the development of transversal competences [2]. Thus, it is crucial to provide education professionals with the skills and resources for an adequate development of programming and robotics activities in educational contexts. In this paper we present a training action developed within the scope of the project "KML II -Laboratory of technologies and learning of programming and robotics for preschool and primary school".This training action aims to work with early education professionals towards the development of activities with children, using the tools foreseen in this research project. From the work done during the course, trainees should develop an activity plan using programming and robotics technologies, to be implemented in their respective educational contexts. Within this action, trainees are expected to: reflect on the concept of computational thinking and its development in preschool and basic education [3], [4]; collaboratively develop competencies associated with digital literacy and the use of robots and programming languages developed for children [5]; know programming and robotics resources that can be used in preschool and basic education; learn programming basics through applications such as ScratchJr, or others that can support learning development; plan activities according to the curricular contents of the respective level of education, using programming and robotics. Implemented through b-learning, this initiative will also enable educators and teachers to explore and develop distance learning and collaboration skills as well as the use of various support tools and work time management in synchronous and asynchronous sessions.This training is one of the first actions through which KML II project plans to study how to integrate programming and robotics in preschool and basic education, transversally to all areas of knowledge. Within this project, case studies will be carried out at a Portuguese national wide level. This work has two main objectives: a) to propose a training framework for curricular units of technology, in the courses for teacher training in higher education and for in-service training; b) to design a profile of childhood educator and primary school teacher as mediator in the integration of programming and robotics learning in their educational contexts.
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