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Comparing cognitive and sociocultural assessments of learning in middle school computer science

  • Columbia University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

As K-12 Computer Science becomes a mainstream subject, there has been recognition of a need for dialogue between various theoretical framings of learning. However, even in research showing the importance of sociocultural factors, quantitative assessment of Computer Science learning has been predominantly cognitive. This study presents an example of how quantitative assessments of learning, based on cognitive and sociocultural framings of learning, can be put into dialogue by developing measures of learning on internal individual terms and understood as participation in a community of practice. We develop two participation-based constructs assessed using methods from learning analytics, and show that each is significantly associated with better performance on a cognitively-based summative assessment of computer science content. These associations are mediated by the content of students' programs. Beyond serving as contextual factors for cognitive assessments, we propose treating these constructs as primary evidence of learning.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication14th International Conference of the Learning Sciences
Subtitle of host publicationThe Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2020 - Conference Proceedings
EditorsMelissa Gresalfi, Ilana Seidel Horn
PublisherInternational Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS)
Pages238-245
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781732467255
StatePublished - 2020
Event14th International Conference of the Learning Sciences: The Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2020 - Nashville, United States
Duration: Jun 19 2020Jun 23 2020

Publication series

NameComputer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference, CSCL
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1573-4552

Conference

Conference14th International Conference of the Learning Sciences: The Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNashville
Period06/19/2006/23/20

Keywords

  • Computational literacy
  • Computer science education
  • Learning analytics
  • Sociocultural learning

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