Computational thinking and teacher education:
What do experts say?
Dr. Qing Ling
March 28, 2018
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Towson Room, Cook Library, Room 507
The proliferation of technology in our life is not only affecting the way we work and learn, but also what and how we learn. Computational thinking (CT) is recognized recently as a new basic skill that ALL students need to master so that they can become competent citizens in the 21st century. Yet, there is a dire shortage of qualified teachers who can effectively help students learn CT. To address this issue, this project investigates how teacher education can prepare our teachers to integrate CT into classrooms. Adopting the expert interview approach, this study interviewed a total of six experts across the nation, ranging from professors in tier one universities to directors in large corporations like Google. This presentation will discuss the results of this study, particularly the experts’ thoughts about how CT can be best integrated in educator preparation programs, as well as potential challenges when designing and establishing CT infused educator preparation programs.
