ERIC Number: EJ1478668
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0273-5024
EISSN: EISSN-1543-2769
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Creating and Performing Educational Gymnastics Using Computational Thinking Skills
Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, v44 n3 p468-476 2025
Purpose: This study examined how physical education majors used computational thinking (CT) skills in a movement concept course. Method: Twenty-two physical education majors were tasked to create two gymnastics routines (i.e., algorithm design), analyze their routines (i.e., decomposition and abstraction), create and follow a personalized fitness plan (i.e., abstract), revise the routines (i.e., debugging), and perform the routines at the end of the semester. Data were analyzed as a single case study with embedded units using structural coding. Results: The participants demonstrated strengths with "debugging" and "algorithm design"; however, they struggled with "decomposition" and "abstraction," which was congruent with previous research regarding these two concepts as the most difficult and important CT skills to master. Discussion/Conclusions: The findings underscore the value of CT skills in a non-STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) course, expending the instructional appropriateness to expose CT to undergraduate students with little to no interest or previous experience in STEM.
Descriptors: Majors (Students), Computation, Thinking Skills, Athletics, Interdisciplinary Approach, Physical Education Teachers, Preservice Teachers, Algorithms, Program Effectiveness
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A