Computational Thinking Design Application for STEAM Education

Abstract

Motivation: Integrating STEAM education and Computational Thinking (CT) provides the skills of analysis, problem-solving and creativity enhancement necessary to twenty-first century citizens. STEAM education can also be seen as a bridge, reinforcing the link between science, schools and industries. Teachers play an important role as mediators and mentors. The difficulties faced by teachers are not only a lack of knowledge of specific disciplinary terms but also the context in which they are applied, such as the computational context. Problem: In order to clarify the context for teachers, and extend their competence beyond knowledge of basic concepts and terminology, guidance on CT and STEAM education integration in schools has emerged as a pressing problem. Solution: A Design Thinking and CT practices taxonomy interaction framework is proposed, providing scaffolding to teachers as they struggle to understand the context of CT implementation in STEAM education. Results: The proposed framework provides concrete guidance to educators in planning class activities, and choosing suitable educational practices in order to engage students. Implication: The results support educators looking for guidance in the integration process and those seeking to incorporate integrated aspects of students’ STEAM learning into teaching practice.