Scaffolding Middle School Children’s Coding Experiences in an Open-Ended Social Robotics Program

Abstract

Social robots and collaborative open-ended learning may help expand perceptions of computing and develop computational thinking to build skill and interest in Computer Science.We designed pre-programming activities to scaffold middle school children's learning in a collaborative and open-ended social robotics program.In this work, we report on how this scaffolding influenced children's computational thinking and perceptions of computing by describing children's experiences in the program.We conclude with theoretical and practical implications of these results.