Computational Thinking with a Multi-literacy Model Using Interactive PowerPoint Media: An Experiment in Elementary Schools

Abstract

Elementary school students need to acquire computational thinking as a crucial skill in the digital age. Similar to mathematical skills, computational thinking is a fundamental competence in digital literacy. It is used to solve problems in learning. One approach is to facilitate children’s learning by emphasizing computational thinking, such as using the multi-literacy model with interactive PowerPoint slides. This study aimed to assess and characterize the influence of multi-literacy models aided by interactive PowerPoint media on the development of computational thinking skills in elementary school students, considering their prior knowledge. Involving a total sample of 56 4th-grade elementary school students, this quantitative study employed a 3 x 2 factorial design. The sample included 14 students in the high group, 28 in the medium group, and 14 in the high group. The research revealed that the implementation of a multi-literacy learning approach, assisted by interactive PowerPoint media, significantly enhances student’s acquisition and improvement of computational thinking skills. This is because children can develop computational thinking skills in an enjoyable environment using PowerPoint media. Another study revealed that students in the high group performed much better on average when it came to learning computational thinking skills. Meanwhile, the average gain of computational thinking skills in the medium group was only slightly different from that of the low group. Keywords: computational thinking, multi-literacy model, interactive PowerPoint media