The Association between Computational Thinking and Mental Models in Talented Children (Doctoral Consortium)
Katrin Künz · 2024
This doctoral research explores the link between computational thinking (CT) and mental models in talented children, addressing a gap in empirical studies on effects of computer science interventions.The research employs a mixed methods approach, utilizing randomized controlled field studies and interviews with primary school students attending computational thinking courses.Thus, two new computational thinking interventions have been developed and will be evaluated by a pilot, efficacy, and effectiveness study including either a wait-list or treated control group.The test instrument measuring mental models will first be employed in semistructured interviews with talented children attending these computational thinking courses and then subsequently implemented in randomized controlled field trials to compare the effects of the courses on computational thinking abilities and the development of stable and viable mental models.