Harlow, D. B., & Leak, A. E. (2014). Mapping students’ ideas to understand learning in a collaborative programming environment. Computer Science Education, 24(2-3), 229-247.

Summary

Type: Empirical

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to map the ideas and the changes in program and outputs that students shared as they were engaged in a graphical programming interface called TurtleArt. Additional, contextual features were identified that allowed researchers to understand how ideas moved through the classroom.

Findings: 1. The students appeared to be learning concepts of CS by "communicating and innovating on ideas" (p. 25) 2. "Classroom context were vital to the process of identifying and representing the developing ideas of the students" (p. 25) 3. This activity resulted in students showing their ownership of ideas

Recommendations: Multiple video cameras on all groups of students would ensure that all interactions and conversations could be seen and heard.

Methodology

Sample Size: 20

Notes: 20 third grade students (8-9 years old). One-fifth of students in this school were English Language Learners. One-third of the school population is considered under-represented ethnic groups which the majority group Hispanic/Latino. The elementary school was in California.