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Publication

Bridging the Gap: Infusing Natural Science Classes with Computer Science Concepts and Skills

Elena Yanakieva; Annette Bieniusa; Thomas Becka; Brian Moser; Dominik Jerger; Christoph Thyssen
In: Jean-Philippe Pellet; Gabriel Parriaux (Hrsg.). Informatics in Schools. Beyond Bits and Bytes: Nurturing Informatics Intelligence in Education. International Conference on Informatics in Schools: Situation, Evolution and Perspectives (ISSEP-2023), October 23-25, Lausanne, Switzerland, Pages 180-193, ISBN 978-3-031-44900-0, Springer Nature Switzerland, 2023.

Abstract

As we venture further into an ever-evolving digital society, it has become imperative for schools to adapt and equip future generations with the required skills. Computational Thinking (CT), specifically its algorithmic thinking aspect, plays a significant role in computer science and other sciences, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. It encourages students to reason at multiple levels of abstraction. This ability is particularly useful in natural science, as scientific experiments require critical skills like conceptualization, problem decomposition, and solving or designing structured systems. However, due to organizational and curricular restrictions, these concepts and skills are typically taught separately, leaving it to the learners to connect and apply the acquired skills in the respective context.