Research Article Summary

http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=11&sid=0f039f74-5325-48d8-a572-3e1cb5891c48%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4112

Identifying middle school students’ challenges in computational thinking-based science learning

Caitlin Higgins ED 5401	Identifying middle school students’ challenges in computational thinking-based science learning
Bibliographic Information	Satabdi Basu, Gautam Biswas , Pratim Sengupta , Amanda Dickes , John S. Kinnebrew and Douglas Clark Identifying middle school students’ challenges in computational thinking-based science learning Basu, S., Biswas, G., Sengupta, P., Dickes, A., Kinnebrew, J., & Clark, D. (2016). Identifying middle school students' challenges in computational thinking-based science learning. Research & Practice In Technology Enhanced Learning, 11(1), 1-35. doi:10.1186/s41039-016-0036-2
Classification	Descriptive study.
Summary	The study is about computing as a medium for teaching math and science. The study talks about the scaffolding needed and the obstacles for teaching through this medium. The students had more control over their learning but needed more scaffolding and coaching in the process.
Conclusion	I think this type of teaching style would only be beneficial to advanced or gifted students. It seemed too complicated for the students to do on their own. There was also a lot of time needed explaining the program and how to operate it, which I think takes away valuable time that could be spent going more in-dept on the subject and letting the students communicate with each other. The students were mostly working alone or only with the teacher.
Thoughts	I enjoyed reading this article because I was curious to find out if students learn better on their own or while working with others. I know I personally prefer working with others and collaborating but I thought it was an interesting teaching approach. The result were similar to the ones I expected that the computer based program was less effective than conventional teaching styles. Its important to do these tests because with improved technology there will always be new ways of doing something, but often the original way was the best way for students to learn. The computerized teaching method needing a lot more scaffolding then other methods and the teachers thought they were spending more time teaching the program than the material. I liked this article because its nice to see that the new way isn't always a better way.