Open AccessComputational Thinking Integration Strategy for the Urban Middle School Classroom
Author(s) -
Lauren Birney,
D. McNamara
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international research in higher education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2380-9205
pISSN - 2380-9183
DOI - 10.5430/irhe.v3n3p51
Subject(s) - curriculum , computational thinking , discipline , mathematics education , computer science , engineering , pedagogy , sociology , psychology , social science
This article provides an overview of the work pioneered by the consortium of collaborators in the Billion Oyster Curriculum and Community Enterprise for Restoration Science Project (BOP-CCERS). The BOP-CCERS are working to support computational thinking in the New York City public school classrooms by creating curriculum which combines:1. The Field Station Research (Oyster Restoration Stations) and data collection2. The Billion Oyster Project Digital Platform and data input and storage 3. The New York State Science Intermediate Level Learning Standards. 4. The Computer Science Teachers Association K-12 Computer Science StandardsThe integration of computational thinking in the STEM middle school classroom is showcased through the intertwining of these dimensions into a trans-disciplinary learning experience that is rich in both content and practice. Students will be able to explain real-world phenomena found in their own community and design possible solutions through the key components of computational thinking.The Curriculum and Community Enterprise for Restoration Science Project digital platform and curriculum will be the resources that provide the underpinnings of the integration of computational thinking in the STEM middle school classroom. The primary functions of the platform include the collection and housing of the data pertaining to the harbor and its component parts, both abiotic and biotic and the storage of the curriculum for both the classroom and the field stations.