Improving Mathematics Learning Through Computational Participation

Abstract

Computational Participation (CP) expands upon Computational Thinking (CT) by incorporating themes of problem-solving, creativity, and digital collaboration and communication. In the Fall of 2021, we partnered with two school boards to facilitate Professional Learning (PL) sessions with a broad community of educators and co-facilitated learning sessions with select classroom teachers. Both PL and co-facilitation learning sessions related to curriculum expectations for mathematics and coding. Instead of teaching coding for coding’s sake, our goal was to prepare teachers to use coding to help students understand mathematics under the pedagogical framework of CP. The questions guiding our overall research were to identify ways teachers can integrate CP while teaching mathematics in a meaningful way and identify the various learning opportunities that students gain when CP is integrated. Our research indicated that CP results in learning environments supportive of collaborative learning, communication, increased student engagement, and perseverance. In addition to this, teachers experienced a positive shift in their mindset toward cross-curricular planning. One persistent challenge in infusing digital coding with mathematics in this study was the lack of 1-to-1 technology in classrooms, which could interrupt momentum and disrupt student motivation.