Drawing on Kinship: Rurally Sustaining CT Pathways

This National Science Foundation-funded research-practice partnership is applying and studying a “kinship-based” approach to Computer Sciences/Computational Thinking (CT) by situating introductory computing initiatives in the maker-oriented, problem-solving Appalachian heritage that has been sustained for 250 years. The project will conduct explanatory case study research to examine how, why and which elements of a rurally sustaining CT pathway appear to influence students’ perceived importance and usefulness of CT, and their expectations of success to learn and use these skills. We’re also collaborating with teachers in two Eastern Kentucky districts to create, implement, and refine CT lessons for their middle school classrooms.