FOSTERING COMPUTATIONAL THINKING PRACTICES OF HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS THROUGH CODING AND ROBOTICS WORKSHOP

This study reports on high school learners' experiences in a coding and robotics workshop and how participation in the activities enhanced their computational thinking practices.Guided by the constructivist and social cognitive theory, an embedded mixed-method research design was utilized.Data was generated from lesson observations, field notes, and focus group discussions conducted.Participants were twenty-one Grade 10 and 11 female science learners from a rural community in a Northeastern province of South Africa.The qualitative responses were interpreted and analyzed using content analysis, and quantitative responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics.It was observed that learners developed a foundational understanding of robotic components such as input, processor, and output.This understanding helped foster their knowledge of abstraction, which is a key aspect of computational thinking.Additionally, learners acknowledged how working together enhanced their ability to break down the problem they were given collectively.They were also able to create a series of repetitive actions that helped in developing a logical sequence of instructions, which guided them in programming the problem.However, some learners expressed frustration with the engagement levels of their group members, which hindered their learning experience.Learners also expressed concern about the limited resources available in their schools, which can restrict the types of activities and learning experiences they can engage in, especially when teachers lack the necessary knowledge and expertise to embed coding and robotics activities into foundational subjects like physical sciences.The study recommends providing comprehensive training for educators in both robotics and effective teaching strategies.This training should equip educators with the skills to facilitate teamwork, pay attention to details, and promote active engagement among all participants.