Effective Computer Science Education in K-12 Classrooms

The growing influence of information technologies in everyday life has underscored the increasing importance of computer science education. The goal of computer science education is not merely to teach students how to code but to develop individuals with strong problem-solving abilities. Pedagogy-driven concepts such as computational thinking and computational participation highlight the problem-solving dimension of computer science and are shaping learning approaches worldwide. Effective instructional design is critical for environments where these concepts are taught. The proposed book, Effective Computer Science Education in K-12 Classrooms, aims to offer a scientific and holistic instructional roadmap for educators at the K-12 level. By detailing concrete educational approaches, this book will provide valuable insights and strategies to enhance the quality and efficiency of computer science education. It will serve as a guide for educators seeking to develop content and teaching methods that are both pedagogically sound and highly effective in building problem-solving skills among students.

Serhat Bahadır Kert is professor of Computer Science education and Instructional Technologies at Yildiz Technical University. He is also the chair of the department of computer education and instructional technologies (CEIT). His research interests are computer science education for children, methodologies in programming language education, computational thinking, game-based education and development of e- learning environments. He teaches courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels and goes on to conduct national and international research on the pedagogical features of computer science education. One of his last projects on programming education for visually impaired children was founded by British Council in 2021.