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Pedagogical Approaches in Computational Thinking-Integrated STEAM Learning Settings: A Literature Review

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Intelligent Computing

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 285))

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of pedagogical approaches deployed in computational thinking (CT)-based STEAM curricula during the period 2015–early 2020. Based on a set of suitable search keys for querying the Scopus database we found 46 studies on CT-integrated STEAM learning settings in K-12 schools and universities. Nearly 46% of the studies were in K-12 science learning. Seven different pedagogies were used to introduce CT in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) environments. Collaborative learning, hands-on and learning by modelling activities, were found to be the main approaches in CT-integrated STEAM learning research settings. In addition, most of these studies used computing principles to teach CT + STEAM topics. However, the roles of pedagogies used in these studies were not clearly stated. Furthermore, CT principles in STEAM learning were not well-defined. Hence, our study provides evidence that it is critical to develop a possible inventory of successful pedagogies and supporting learning activities for CT-integrated learning environments.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all members of ViLLE research team group and Department of Future technologies, University of Turku, for their comments and support that greatly improved the manuscript. This research was supported fully by a University of Turku, Turku, Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Ashok Kumar Veerasamy, Peter Larsson, Mikko-Ville Apiola & Mikko-Jussi Laakso

  2. RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Daryl D’Souza

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  1. Ashok Kumar Veerasamy
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Correspondence to Ashok Kumar Veerasamy .

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  1. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Kohei Arai

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Veerasamy, A.K., Larsson, P., Apiola, MV., D’Souza, D., Laakso, MJ. (2021). Pedagogical Approaches in Computational Thinking-Integrated STEAM Learning Settings: A Literature Review. In: Arai, K. (eds) Intelligent Computing. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 285. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80129-8_27

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