Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study

Julie Henry; Bruno Dumas

doi:10.1109/educon.2018.8363454

Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study

Research output: Contribution in Book/Catalog/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Many children hold an incomplete perception of what computer science is, leading to a lack of interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies. In order to address this challenge, a workshop was developed to expose children aged 12-14 years to core concepts in programming by letting them manipulate widespread tangible embedded systems. With the help of qualitative surveys, the influence of this workshop on middle school students' perceptions of computer science were examined. The results indicate that children, especially girls, perceived the computer as a central element of computer science and not primarily as a tool. However, the proposed two-hours long workshop seems to influence the children's perceptions: They spoke about programming, electronic/electricity and creativity.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of 2018 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference
Subtitle of host publication	Emerging Trends and Challenges of Engineering Education, EDUCON 2018
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	1811-1817
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-5386-2957-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/educon.2018.8363454
Publication status	Published - 17 Apr 2018
Event	EDUCON2018 – IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Duration: 17 Apr 2018 → 20 Apr 2018 http://www.educon-conference.org/educon2018/

Publication series

Name	IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON
Volume	2018-April
ISSN (Print)	2165-9559
ISSN (Electronic)	2165-9567

Conference

Conference	EDUCON2018 – IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Period	17/04/18 → 20/04/18
Internet address	http://www.educon-conference.org/educon2018/

Keywords

CS Enrollment
Gender
Middle School Programming Education
Programming Children's Perceptions
Qualitative Analysis
Workshop Design

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1109/educon.2018.8363454

Cite this

Henry, J., & Dumas, B. (2018). Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study. In Proceedings of 2018 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference: Emerging Trends and Challenges of Engineering Education, EDUCON 2018 (pp. 1811-1817). (IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON; Vol. 2018-April). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/educon.2018.8363454

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title = "Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study",

abstract = "Many children hold an incomplete perception of what computer science is, leading to a lack of interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies. In order to address this challenge, a workshop was developed to expose children aged 12-14 years to core concepts in programming by letting them manipulate widespread tangible embedded systems. With the help of qualitative surveys, the influence of this workshop on middle school students' perceptions of computer science were examined. The results indicate that children, especially girls, perceived the computer as a central element of computer science and not primarily as a tool. However, the proposed two-hours long workshop seems to influence the children's perceptions: They spoke about programming, electronic/electricity and creativity.",

keywords = "CS Enrollment, Gender, Middle School Programming Education, Programming Children's Perceptions, Qualitative Analysis, Workshop Design",

author = "Julie Henry and Bruno Dumas",

year = "2018",

month = apr,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1109/educon.2018.8363454",

language = "English",

series = "IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON",

publisher = "IEEE",

pages = "1811--1817",

booktitle = "Proceedings of 2018 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference",

note = "EDUCON2018 – IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference ; Conference date: 17-04-2018 Through 20-04-2018",

url = "http://www.educon-conference.org/educon2018/",

}

Henry, J & Dumas, B 2018, Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study. in Proceedings of 2018 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference: Emerging Trends and Challenges of Engineering Education, EDUCON 2018. IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON, vol. 2018-April, IEEE, pp. 1811-1817, EDUCON2018 – IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, 17/04/18. https://doi.org/10.1109/educon.2018.8363454

Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study. / Henry, Julie ; Dumas, Bruno.
Proceedings of 2018 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference: Emerging Trends and Challenges of Engineering Education, EDUCON 2018. IEEE, 2018. p. 1811-1817 (IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON; Vol. 2018-April).

Research output: Contribution in Book/Catalog/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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AU - Dumas, Bruno

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N2 - Many children hold an incomplete perception of what computer science is, leading to a lack of interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies. In order to address this challenge, a workshop was developed to expose children aged 12-14 years to core concepts in programming by letting them manipulate widespread tangible embedded systems. With the help of qualitative surveys, the influence of this workshop on middle school students' perceptions of computer science were examined. The results indicate that children, especially girls, perceived the computer as a central element of computer science and not primarily as a tool. However, the proposed two-hours long workshop seems to influence the children's perceptions: They spoke about programming, electronic/electricity and creativity.

AB - Many children hold an incomplete perception of what computer science is, leading to a lack of interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies. In order to address this challenge, a workshop was developed to expose children aged 12-14 years to core concepts in programming by letting them manipulate widespread tangible embedded systems. With the help of qualitative surveys, the influence of this workshop on middle school students' perceptions of computer science were examined. The results indicate that children, especially girls, perceived the computer as a central element of computer science and not primarily as a tool. However, the proposed two-hours long workshop seems to influence the children's perceptions: They spoke about programming, electronic/electricity and creativity.

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KW - Qualitative Analysis

KW - Workshop Design

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Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

EDUCON2018 – IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference

Cite this

Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Activities

EDUCON2018 – IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference

Cite this