Students implemented abstraction, pattern recognition and automation in new data- and system-related forms not captured by programming-centred CT frameworks¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · design r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Middle school students developed computational abstraction in three forms (object, system, visual) while playing and modifying a socio-scientific simulation game, with visual abstraction not previously described in CT frameworks. → Marianthi Grizioti 2025

Evidence¶

Marianthi Grizioti 2025¶

Marianthi Grizioti. (2025). Computational thinking beyond coding: exploring student computational practices while playing and modifying a socio-scientific simulation game with integrated computational tools. Education Tech Research Dev. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-025-10477-y

q2 · i? · design · r2

Qualitative thematic analysis of 16 middle school students' interactions over a 7-week afterschool STEM club intervention, coding 480 quotations into 6 themes. The article reports that "students implemented these CT practices in different forms" including visual abstraction, which "has not been described in any known CT Framework so far."

"students implemented these CT practices in different forms, depending on their interaction with the tool (e.g. whether they were designing or playing, modifying the data or the rules). These forms were not part of the initial coding schema"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Different simulation game elements fostered different CT practices: abstraction and pattern recognition arose with choices, consequences and graphics, while event handling arose with end rules and internal relationships — related
• Integrated use of all three ChoiCo affordances (database, map editor, block-based programming) was associated with higher-level CT practices such as optimization and event handling — related
• Societal values in the simulation game triggered more disagreement, discussion and modification than scientific values, fostering critical CT practices — related