Although digital technology is an important part of young people's lives, previous research implies that they have a limited understanding of what programming is and its connection to the digital devices they encounter every day. In order to create conditions for meaningful teaching in and about programming in technology education, more knowledge…

To increase engagement with science and technology, young people around the world are encouraged to attend activities at science centers. But how effective are these activities? Since women have weaker ability beliefs and interest in technology than men, it is especially important to learn how science center visits affect them. In this study, we…

The increased emergence of digital tools in educational contexts have changed the conditions for teaching and learning which, in turn, has meant a need for the development of professional digital competence (PDC) among teachers worldwide. Simultaneously, and aligned with this, programming has become an increasingly important part of schooling in…

This study explores the changing landscape of technology teacher education, in relation to the increasing integration of digital content, especially programming, in teacher education for grades 4-6 (pupils 10-12 years old) and how student teachers in Sweden perceive this content. Limited research exists on student teachers in technology,…

There is a recognized need to understand the current state of programming implementation in the Swedish compulsory school system. This study focused specifically on the implementation of programming in the school subject of technology for grades 4-6. In Sweden, the responsibility for choosing teaching and learning material lies with individual…

In Sweden, as in many other countries, programming has been added to the curriculum in recent years. This paper explores how and under what conditions programming is transformed into teaching in technology education. Teachers in grade 7-9 were interviewed about what and how they teach about programming in the context of technology education, and…

Purpose: The conducted examination of programming affordances and constraints had the purpose of adding knowledge and value that facilitate the on-going national curricula revision; knowledge that also could be of general interest outside the Swedish K-12 context. Design/methodology/approach: With a qualitative approach, the study was conducted as…

This article investigates how the recent implementation of programming in school mathematics interacts with algebraic thinking and learning. Based on Duval's theory of semiotic representations, we analyze in what ways syntax and semantics of programming languages are aligned with or divert from corresponding algebraic symbolism. Three examples of…

We characterize the recently included programming content in Swedish mathematics textbooks for elementary school. Especially, the connection between programming content and traditional mathematical content has been considered. The analytical tools used are based on the so-called 5E's, a theoretical framework of action, developed within the…

There is a recognized need for research on how to teach computer programming in primary schools in Sweden grades 4-6 (10-12-year-old pupils). Studies of teaching show the importance of teachers' knowledge of content and pedagogy and how these two parts affect each other (i.e. pedagogical content knowledge [PCK]). Most teachers in Sweden have…

Lately, theme parks have emphasized the learning and edutainment aspects of their business. This has created new opportunities for theme parks and schools to cooperate. Research has shown that learning at science centers, a similar form of learning arena, tends to be out of context and that the learning outcomes are meager. High Chaparral, in…

Within a theoretical framework grounded in design for learning, this article presents a research project about pupils' engagement during programming education. In a design-theoretical perspective, everyone who is somehow engaged in a learning process is a designer. The results show that how pupils design their learning when programming is related…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyse and discuss K-12 mathematics and technology teachers' perceptions on integrating programming in their teaching and learning activities, and perceptions on different programming tools. Design/methodology/approach: The approach of a case study was used, with data collected from three instances of a…

Teachers around the world have started teaching programming at the K-9 level, some due to the formal introduction of programming in the national curriculum, others without such pressure and on their own initiative. In this study, we attempted to understand which skills -- both CT-related and general -- are developed among pupils in the process of…

Digital competence and programming are actively highlighted areas in education worldwide. They are becoming part of curricula all over the world, including the Swedish elementary school curriculum, Children are expected to develop "computational thinking" through programming activities, mainly in mathematics--which are supposed to be…