Fri 20 Feb 2026 13:40 - 14:00 at Meeting Room 103-104 - Computational Thinking and Capstone Chair(s): Jixiang Fan

Integrating literacy and computational thinking (CT) can broaden computer science education participation, especially for multilingual learners. This study examined how ELA-integrated Scratch-based CT curriculum impacts coding attitudes among elementary students in predominantly Latine and multilingual districts. The curriculum integrates literacy strategies into CT instruction as proposed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to support multilingual learners. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial with 1,325 students in grades 3–5 across 23 schools in two suburban districts. The treatment group used an ELA-integrated CT curriculum for a school year while controls continued with business-as instruction. Pre- and post-surveys measured five coding attitude constructs: confidence, interest, utility, perceived coding values of social circles, and perceptions of young coders. We estimated treatment effects using a two-level hierarchical linear model, controlling for student and classroom characteristics. Findings show no statistically significant differences emerged in overall coding attitudes between groups. However, students exposed to a year of ELA-integrated CT curriculum showed significant increases in coding confidence. The curriculum did not significantly affect other attitude dimensions. Findings suggest that an ELA-integrated CT curriculum can enhance coding confidence among elementary students, demonstrating the value of early computing exposure and integrated approaches.

Fri 20 Feb

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13:40 - 15:00
Computational Thinking and CapstonePapers at Meeting Room 103-104
Chair(s): Jixiang Fan Virginia Tech
13:40
20m
Talk
Boosting Coding Confidence in Elementary Students: The Impact of ELA-Integrated Computational Thinking CurriculumMSIK12
Papers
Leiny Garcia pc, Yvonne Kao WestEd, Sharin Jacob Digital Promise, Clare Baek University of California, Irvine, Dana Saito-Stehberger University of California, Irvine, Diana Franklin University of Chicago, Mark Warschauer University of California, Irvine
14:00
20m
Talk
Bridging Computational Thinking, Science, and Storytelling: Reflections on an Interdisciplinary Learning ApproachK12
Papers
Jessica Vandenberg North Carolina State University, Andy Smith North Carolina State University, Robert Monahan North Carolina State University, James Minogue NC State University, Kevin Oliver North Carolina State University, Aleata Hubbard Cheuoua WestEd, Cathy Ringstaff WestEd, Bradford Mott North Carolina State University
14:20
20m
Talk
Effects of Project Type on CS Capstone Courses
Papers
Ananth Jillepalli Washington State University, David Rice Washington State University, James Crabb Washington State University, Assefaw Gebremedhin Washington State University
14:40
20m
Talk
Examining the Impact of Instructor-Client Mentoring Models in CS Capstone Courses at a Public University
Papers
Ananth Jillepalli Washington State University, James Crabb Washington State University, David Rice Washington State University, Assefaw Gebremedhin Washington State University