Computational Thinking in Adult Education: Learning Outcomes of a STEM Intervention
Evangelia Kotzampasaki, George A. Koulaouzides · Andragoske studije · 2024
Computational Thinking (CT) has attracted increasing international attention, particularly in relation to younger learners. However, as a fundamental cognitive process, CT is equally relevant to adults, and its development within this demographic warrants further investigation. STEM education, with its holistic and transdisciplinary orientation, is closely associated with CT and, if appropriately designed, can serve as a powerful framework for adult education. This paper reports on an action research project that explored the dimensions of CT in the context of STEM-based adult education. For this purpose, a STEM intervention comprising eight interconnected scenarios was designed and implemented in Second Chance Schools (SCSs), whose students exemplify the essential characteristics of adult learners. A total of 48 trainees, aged 26 to 75, across four classes in two SCSs in Athens, participated in the intervention. Data was collected through pre... and post-tests and analyzed quantitatively, supplemented by qualitative observations to support interpretation. The results revealed statistically significant improvements across all levels of difficulty and dimensions examined. Specifically, gains were observed in abstraction, algorithmic thinking, decomposition, generalization, and evaluation.