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Unplugging Math: Integrating Computational Thinking into Mathematics Education Through Poly-Universe

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Smart Learning Ecosystems as Engines of the Green and Digital Transition (SLERD 2023)

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Abstract

How to teach CT skills and the quality of students’ understanding of CT are research issues we need to address. In this study, an unplugged programming activity was designed, developed, and implemented. The results were evaluated to serve as an example of how CT can be integrated into mathematics education. We used the Poly-Universe educational game to design an unplugged programming activity. Then we used it to develop pre-service teachers’ CT skills and investigate their opinions about using this game in their future teaching. This game serves as an additional tool that can be employed to integrate CT and mathematics education creatively and engagingly. In this study, we investigate the possibilities of using this game to develop the pre-service teachers’ CT skills and explore their opinion about using it in their future teaching. This study is modeled by a Type 1 instructional product design and development study. Twenty-two pre-service mathematics teachers participated in this study. The study was conducted in four phases: explanation of the game, theoretical CT, practical CT, and pre-service teachers as task creators. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the participants found the activity interesting, enjoyable, and useful for teaching. It was also found that the activity promoted collaboration and increased pre-service teachers’ confidence in problem-solving. The study provides insight into using unplugged programming and the Poly-Universe game to integrate CT principles into mathematics education.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Department of STEM Education, Johannes Kepler University, Science Park 5, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040, Linz, Austria

    Branko Anđić, Mathias Tejera, Eva Schmidthaler & Zsolt Lavicza

  2. Faculty of Education, Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technologies, Manisa Celal Bayar University, 45900, Demirci/Manisa, Turkey

    Filiz Mumcu

Authors
  1. Branko Anđić
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  2. Filiz Mumcu
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  3. Mathias Tejera
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  4. Eva Schmidthaler
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  5. Zsolt Lavicza
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Filiz Mumcu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Mihai Dascalu

  2. Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Óscar Mealha

  3. School of Digital Technologies, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia

    Sirje Virkus

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Anđić, B., Mumcu, F., Tejera, M., Schmidthaler, E., Lavicza, Z. (2023). Unplugging Math: Integrating Computational Thinking into Mathematics Education Through Poly-Universe. In: Dascalu, M., Mealha, Ó., Virkus, S. (eds) Smart Learning Ecosystems as Engines of the Green and Digital Transition. SLERD 2023. Advances in Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5540-4_15

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