Exploring Computational Music Thinking in a Workshop Setting with Primary and Secondary School Children

Abstract

Motivated by the essential role of music in children's lives, the potential of sound as sensory modality, and the importance of teaching Computational Thinking, there is great pedagogical potential in the integration of musical and computational thinking into "Computational Music Thinking". In this paper we report a pilot study exploring research and design approaches in creating learning environments and tools, which stimulate the interest of children and adolescents for both computer science and music in a sustainable way in the context of creative, self-guided activities. For the purposes of the study, two online tools, AgentCubes online, a 3D game design environment, and Ludosonica, an interactive music composition and performance system, were employed in a series of workshops designed for primary and secondary school children. Results from the study generally confirm the pedagogical potential of Computational Music Thinking and point toward promising future research directions.