Developing learning environments that support synergistic learning of STEM+C

Abstract

Exploiting the synergies of computational thinking and STEM domains has proven to have significant pedagogical benefits, supporting learning with understanding in STEM that is active and engaging, while also providing for the development of computational thinking (CT) concepts and practices. Proliferating the applicability of this form of learning to more classrooms requires a systematic approach to system, curriculum, and feedback design that targets key domain learning objectives and personalizes learning for a variety of student abilities in the context of traditional STEM classrooms. This proposal outlines one such approach with the goal of developing a learning-by-modeling environment to support effective and inclusive opportunities for synergistic learning.