A computer science and robotics integration model for primary school: evaluation of a large-scale in-service K-4 teacher-training program

Integrating computer science (CS) into school curricula has become a worldwide preoccupation. Therefore, we present a CS and Robotics integration model and its validation through a large-scale pilot study in the administrative region of the Canton Vaud in Switzerland. Approximately 350 primary schoo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Education and information technologies 2021-05, Vol.26 (3), p.2445-2475
Main Authors: El-Hamamsy, Laila, Chessel-Lazzarotto, Frédérique, Bruno, Barbara, Roy, Didier, Cahlikova, Tereza, Chevalier, Morgane, Parriaux, Gabriel, Pellet, Jean-Philippe, Lanarès, Jacques, Zufferey, Jessica Dehler, Mondada, Francesco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computer Appl. in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Computer Science
Computer Science Education
Computers and Education
Curricula
Education
Educational evaluation
Educational Technology
Elementary education
Elementary School Teachers
Faculty Development
Foreign Countries
Humanities and Social Sciences
Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet)
Kindergarten
Learning Activities
Pilot Projects
Professional development
Program Descriptions
Program Evaluation
Robotics
Robotics industry
Robots
Scaffolding (Teaching Technique)
Teacher education
Teachers
Teaching Methods
Technology Integration
Training
User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction
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Summary:Integrating computer science (CS) into school curricula has become a worldwide preoccupation. Therefore, we present a CS and Robotics integration model and its validation through a large-scale pilot study in the administrative region of the Canton Vaud in Switzerland. Approximately 350 primary school teachers followed a mandatory CS continuing professional development program (CPD) of adapted format with a curriculum scaffolded by instruction modality. This included CS Unplugged activities that aim to teach CS concepts without the use of screens, and Robotics Unplugged activities that employed physical robots, without screens, to learn about robotics and CS concepts. Teachers evaluated positively the CPD and their representation of CS improved. Voluntary adoption rates reached 97% during the CPD and 80% the following year. These results combined with the underpinning literature support the generalisability of the model to other contexts.
ISSN:1360-2357
1573-7608
DOI:10.1007/s10639-020-10355-5