Perceptions of computer science among children after a hands-on activity: A pilot study

Abstract

Many children hold an incomplete perception of what computer science is, leading to a lack of interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies. In order to address this challenge, a workshop was developed to expose children aged 12–14 years to core concepts in programming by letting them manipulate widespread tangible embedded systems. With the help of qualitative surveys, the influence of this workshop on middle school students' perceptions of computer science were examined. The results indicate that children, especially girls, perceived the computer as a central element of computer science and not primarily as a tool. However, the proposed two-hours long workshop seems to influence the children's perceptions: they spoke about programming, electronic/electricity and creativity.