Computational thinking skills are crucial for students in the digital age, yet effective methods for developing these skills in elementary education remain challenging. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a micro:bit-based learning package for enhancing computational thinking skills among elementary students, and investigate its effects on students' computational thinking abilities. A Type 1 Developmental Research design was employed, involving the design, development, and evaluation of a learning package grounded in constructivist principles. The package, comprising seven key components including authentic problem situations and a computational thinking skills center, was evaluated by 15 experts in educational technology, computer science education, and elementary education. Subsequently, 30 fifth-grade students from Ban Thum School in Thailand participated in a four-week implementation of the package. Expert evaluation revealed excellent overall quality of the learning package (M = 4.52, SD = 0.27), with high ratings for design, content, and media components. Student assessment showed improvement in computational thinking skills, with overall performance surpassing the 75% criterion (M = 76.89%). Students demonstrated significantly stronger proficiency in decomposition compared to other skills (p < .001). All four computational thinking skills were significant predictors of overall performance, with decomposition emerging as the strongest predictor. This study contributes a novel, comprehensive approach to fostering computational thinking in elementary education, integrating micro:bit technology with constructivist learning principles. The findings suggest potential for widespread adoption in elementary education, while highlighting areas for future refinement to balance skill development across all aspects of computational thinking.

Authors:
Parama Kwangmuang, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
Romwarin Gamlunglert, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
Supharada Bubpha, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Parama Kwangmuang is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Technology from Khon Kaen University.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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