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A Crafts-Oriented Approach to Computing in High School: Introducing Computational Concepts, Practices, and Perspectives with Electronic Textiles

Published: 01 March 2014 Publication History
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  • Abstract

    In this article, we examine the use of electronic textiles (e-textiles) for introducing key computational concepts and practices while broadening perceptions about computing. The starting point of our work was the design and implementation of a curriculum module using the LilyPad Arduino in a pre-AP high school computer science class. To understand students’ learning, we analyzed the structure and functionality of their circuits and program code as well as their design approaches to making and debugging their e-textile creations and their views of computing. We also studied students’ changing perceptions of computing. Our discussion addresses the need for and design of scaffolded challenges and the potential for using crafts materials and activities such as e-textiles for designing introductory courses that can broaden participation in computing.

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    1. A Crafts-Oriented Approach to Computing in High School: Introducing Computational Concepts, Practices, and Perspectives with Electronic Textiles

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      cover image ACM Transactions on Computing Education
      ACM Transactions on Computing Education  Volume 14, Issue 1
      March 2014
      98 pages
      EISSN:1946-6226
      DOI:10.1145/2600089
      Issue’s Table of Contents
      Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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      Publication History

      Published: 01 March 2014
      Accepted: 01 September 2013
      Revised: 01 September 2013
      Received: 01 March 2013
      Published in TOCE Volume 14, Issue 1

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      Author Tags

      1. Electronic textiles
      2. K-12
      3. education

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      • (2024)Creating Apps for Community and Social Good: Preliminary Learning Outcomes from a Middle School Computer Science CurriculumACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/365867424:3(1-26)Online publication date: 15-Apr-2024
      • (2024)Broadening Computing Participation in the Navajo NationProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653551(695-700)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
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      • (2024)Collaborative Troubleshooting in STEM: A Case Study of High School Students Finding and Fixing Code, Circuit and Craft Challenges in Electronic TextilesCognition and Instruction10.1080/07370008.2024.233469742:3(359-398)Online publication date: 8-Apr-2024
      • (2024)Empowering teachers’ professional development with e-textiles supported educational STEAM projectsInternational Journal of Technology and Design Education10.1007/s10798-024-09892-8Online publication date: 18-Apr-2024
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