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Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School
written by Hilary A. Dwyer, Bryce Boe, Charlotte Hill, Diana Franklin, and Danielle B. Harlow
Computational thinking, an approach to problem solving, is a key practice of science education rarely integrated into instruction in an authentic way. A second key practice, creating models of physical phenomenon, has been recognized as an important strategy for facilitating students' deeper understandings of both science concepts and the practices of science. We are creating an interdisciplinary computational thinking curriculum for grades 4-6 that combines the development of computational thinking with content in other disciplines such as science. Here we present an example project where students can iteratively develop a model to explain the momentum and acceleration of an object, coupled with sophisticated computational thinking concepts to simulate that model. In addition, we present two findings from related research on fourth graders' pre-instructional knowledge related to computational thinking: 1) Students recognized the need for but struggled to produce specific instructions, and 2) Students understood that small errors could change outcomes.
Physics Education Research Conference 2013
Part of the PER Conference series
Portland, OR: July 17-18, 2013
Pages 133-136
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Assessment
- Communication
- Sample Population
= Age
Education Practices
- Curriculum Development
- Instructional Material Design
= Activity
- Technology
= Multimedia
General Physics
- Computational Physics
- Elementary School
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- application/pdf
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2013…
Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
Rights Holder:
American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:
10.1119/perc.2013.pr.021
NSF Numbers:
1240985
0940491
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
1.40.-d
1.40.eg
1.40.G-
1.50.H
Keywords:
Computational Thinking, Elementary School Education, PERC 2013
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created January 30, 2014 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
January 30, 2014 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 16, 2013
Other Collections:

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Record Link
AIP Format
H. Dwyer, B. Boe, C. Hill, D. Franklin, and D. Harlow, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, 2013, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675).
AJP/PRST-PER
H. Dwyer, B. Boe, C. Hill, D. Franklin, and D. Harlow, Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, 2013, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675>.
APA Format
Dwyer, H., Boe, B., Hill, C., Franklin, D., & Harlow, D. (2013, July 17-18). Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675
Chicago Format
Dwyer, H, B. Boe, C. Hill, D. Franklin, and D. Harlow. "Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, July 17-18, 2013. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675 (accessed 19 April 2024).
MLA Format
Dwyer, Hilary A., Bryce Boe, Charlotte Hill, Diana Franklin, and Danielle Harlow. "Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School." Physics Education Research Conference 2013. Portland, OR: 2013. 133-136 of PER Conference. 19 Apr. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Hilary A. Dwyer and Bryce Boe and Charlotte Hill and Diana Franklin and Danielle Harlow", Title = {Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2013}, Pages = {133-136}, Address = {Portland, OR}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {July 17-18}, Year = {2013} }
Refer Export Format

%A Hilary A. Dwyer %A Bryce Boe %A Charlotte Hill %A Diana Franklin %A Danielle Harlow %T Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School %S PER Conference %D July 17-18 2013 %P 133-136 %C Portland, OR %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2013 %O July 17-18 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Dwyer, Hilary A. %A Boe, Bryce %A Hill, Charlotte %A Franklin, Diana %A Harlow, Danielle %D July 17-18 2013 %T Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School %B Physics Education Research Conference 2013 %C Portland, OR %P 133-136 %S PER Conference %8 July 17-18 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675


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