@article{BottinoChioccariello2015, author = {Bottino, Rosa and Chioccariello, Augusto}, title = {Computational Thinking}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82820}, pages = {301 -- 309}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Digital technology has radically changed the way people work in industry, finance, services, media and commerce. Informatics has contributed to the scientific and technological development of our society in general and to the digital revolution in particular. Computational thinking is the term indicating the key ideas of this discipline that might be included in the key competencies underlying the curriculum of compulsory education. The educational potential of informatics has a history dating back to the sixties. In this article, we briefly revisit this history looking for lessons learned. In particular, we focus on experiences of teaching and learning programming. However, computational thinking is more than coding. It is a way of thinking and practicing interactive dynamic modeling with computers. We advocate that learners can practice computational thinking in playful contexts where they can develop personal projects, for example building videogames and/or robots, share and discuss their construction with others. In our view, this approach allows an integration of computational thinking in the K-12 curriculum across disciplines.}, language = {en} } @article{ChristensenKnezek2015, author = {Christensen, Rhonda and Knezek, Gerald}, title = {The Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment Questionnaire (TPSA)}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82838}, pages = {311 -- 318}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment (TPSA) questionnaire has been used for 15 years in the USA and other nations as a self-efficacy measure for proficiencies fundamental to effective technology integration in the classroom learning environment. Internal consistency reliabilities for each of the five-item scales have typically ranged from .73 to .88 for preservice or inservice technology-using teachers. Due to changing technologies used in education, researchers sought to renovate partially obsolete items and extend self-efficacy assessment to new areas, such as social media and mobile learning. Analysis of 2014 data gathered on a new, 34 item version of the TPSA indicates that the four established areas of email, World Wide Web (WWW), integrated applications, and teaching with technology continue to form consistent scales with reliabilities ranging from .81 to .93, while the 14 new items gathered to represent emerging technologies and media separate into two scales, each with internal consistency reliabilities greater than .9. The renovated TPSA is deemed to be worthy of continued use in the teaching with technology context.}, language = {en} } @article{MainaAngondiWaga2015, author = {Maina, Anthony Gioko and Angondi, Enos Kiforo and Waga, Rosemary}, title = {How does the Implementation of a Literacy Learning Tool Kit influence Literacy Skill Acquisition?}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82856}, pages = {319 -- 326}, year = {2015}, abstract = {This study aimed at following how teachers transfer skills into results while using ABRA literacy software. This was done in the second part of the pilot study whose aim was to provide equity to control group teachers and students by exposing them to the ABRACADABRA treatment after the end of phase 1. This opportunity was used to follow the phase 1 teachers to see how the skills learned were being transformed into results. A standard three-day initial training and planning session on how to use ABRA to teach literacy was held at the beginning of each phase for ABRA teachers (phase 1 experimental and phase 2 delayed ABRA). Teachers were provided with teaching materials including a tentative ABRA curriculum developed to align with the Kenyan English Language requirements for year 1 and 3 students. Results showed that although there was no significant difference between the groups in vocabulary-related subscales which include word reading and meaning as well as sentence comprehension, students in ABRACADABRA classes improved their scores at a significantly higher rate than students in control classes in comprehension related scores. An average student in the ABRACADABRA group improved by 12 and 16 percentile points respectively compared to their counterparts in the control group.}, language = {en} } @article{Ohrndorf2015, author = {Ohrndorf, Laura}, title = {Assignments in Computer Science Education}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82868}, pages = {327 -- 333}, year = {2015}, abstract = {In this paper we describe the recent state of our research project concerning computer science teachers' knowledge on students' cognition. We did a comprehensive analysis of textbooks, curricula and other resources, which give teachers guidance to formulate assignments. In comparison to other subjects there are only a few concepts and strategies taught to prospective computer science teachers in university. We summarize them and given an overview on our empirical approach to measure this knowledge.}, language = {en} } @article{OrBach2015, author = {Or-Bach, Rachel}, title = {Programming for Non-Programmers}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82875}, pages = {335 -- 342}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The study reported in this paper involved the employment of specific in-class exercises using a Personal Response System (PRS). These exercises were designed with two goals: to enhance students' capabilities of tracing a given code and of explaining a given code in natural language with some abstraction. The paper presents evidence from the actual use of the PRS along with students' subjective impressions regarding both the use of the PRS and the special exercises. The conclusions from the findings are followed with a short discussion on benefits of PRS-based mental processing exercises for learning programming and beyond.}, language = {en} } @article{PrestonYounie2015, author = {Preston, Christina and Younie, Sarah}, title = {Mentoring in a Digital World}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82895}, pages = {343 -- 350}, year = {2015}, abstract = {This paper focuses on the results of the evaluation of the first pilot of an e-mentoring unit designed by the Hands-On ICT consortium, funded by the EU LLL programme. The overall aim of this two-year activity is to investigate the value for professional learning of Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and Community Online Open Courses (COOCs) in the context of a 'community of practice'. Three units in the first pilot covered aspects of using digital technologies to develop creative thinking skills. The findings in this paper relate to the fourth unit about e-mentoring, a skill that was important to delivering the course content in the other three units. Findings about the e-mentoring unit included: the students' request for detailed profiles so that participants can get to know each other; and, the need to reconcile the different interpretations of e-mentoring held by the participants when the course begins. The evaluators concluded that the major issues were that: not all professional learners would self-organise and network; and few would wish to mentor their colleagues voluntarily. Therefore, the e-mentoring issues will need careful consideration in pilots two and three to identify how e-mentoring will be organised.}, language = {en} } @article{PrzybyllaRomeike2015, author = {Przybylla, Mareen and Romeike, Ralf}, title = {Key Competences with Physical Computing}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82904}, pages = {351 -- 361}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Physical computing covers the design and realization of interactive objects and installations and allows students to develop concrete, tangible products of the real world that arise from the learners' imagination. This way, constructionist learning is raised to a level that enables students to gain haptic experience and thereby concretizes the virtual. In this paper the defining characteristics of physical computing are described. Key competences to be gained with physical computing will be identified.}, language = {en} } @article{ReynoldsSwainstonBendrups2015, author = {Reynolds, Nicholas and Swainston, Andrew and Bendrups, Faye}, title = {Music Technology and Computational Thinking}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82913}, pages = {363 -- 370}, year = {2015}, abstract = {A project involving the composition of a number of pieces of music by public participants revealed levels of engagement with and mastery of complex music technologies by a number of secondary student volunteers. This paper reports briefly on some initial findings of that project and seeks to illuminate an understanding of computational thinking across the curriculum.}, language = {en} } @article{SysłoKwiatkowska2015, author = {Sysło, Maciej M. and Kwiatkowska, Anna Beata}, title = {Think logarithmically!}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82923}, pages = {371 -- 380}, year = {2015}, abstract = {We discuss here a number of algorithmic topics which we use in our teaching and in learning of mathematics and informatics to illustrate and document the power of logarithm in designing very efficient algorithms and computations - logarithmic thinking is one of the most important key competencies for solving real world practical problems. We demonstrate also how to introduce logarithm independently of mathematical formalism using a conceptual model for reducing a problem size by at least half. It is quite surprising that the idea, which leads to logarithm, is present in Euclid's algorithm described almost 2000 years before John Napier invented logarithm.}, language = {en} } @article{ZierisGerstbergerMueller2015, author = {Zieris, Holger and Gerstberger, Herbert and M{\"u}ller, Wolfgang}, title = {Using Arduino-Based Experiments to Integrate Computer Science Education and Natural Science}, series = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, journal = {KEYCIT 2014 - Key Competencies in Informatics and ICT}, number = {7}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {1868-0844}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-82938}, pages = {381 -- 389}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Current curricular trends require teachers in Baden- Wuerttemberg (Germany) to integrate Computer Science (CS) into traditional subjects, such as Physical Science. However, concrete guidelines are missing. To fill this gap, we outline an approach where a microcontroller is used to perform and evaluate measurements in the Physical Science classroom. Using the open-source Arduino platform, we expect students to acquire and develop both CS and Physical Science competencies by using a self-programmed microcontroller. In addition to this combined development of competencies in Physical Science and CS, the subject matter will be embedded in suitable contexts and learning environments, such as weather and climate.}, language = {en} }