An Expansively-framed Unplugged Weaving Sequence Intended to Bear Computational Fruit of the Loom

Abstract

We report on a late-breaking project that centralizes the Maker practice of loom-based weaving as a locus for unplugged computational thinking. While unplugged activities are appealing for making computation accessible, they also come with the risk of developing inert knowledge. To address and mitigate that risk, we introduce a new framework that we are developing called "Expansively-framed Unplugged" (EfU) computing education. We report on some initial testing and refinement of a learning sequence that starts with weaving on a loom and ends with optimizing code in Scratch. The testing was done with a school librarian who is will be implementing a coding program with students at a middle school library using this EfU sequence.