Short tasks - big ideas: constructive approach for learning and teaching of informatics concepts in primary education
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Informatikos mokymas; Informatikos sąvokos; Koncepcija pagrįstas sprendimas; Konstruktyvizmas; Pradinis ugdymas; Trumpa užduotis; Concept-based solving; Constructionism; Informatics concepts; Informatics education; Primary education; Short task.
ENConstructionism as a learning paradigm is based on a design, actions and constructing things or solutions by using means via collaboration and the construction of knowledge (Papert & Harel, 1991). The main idea is that pupils can learn by performing activities by making things, or even deeper, by speaking about what they are performing (doing). Our approach focus on informatics concept-based tasks (problems) as scaffolding activities to introduce informatics concepts to primary schools. The tasks are short and can help pupils to construct their knowledge and mental structures of informatics as a science discipline. In our long experience (more than ten years) hundreds of short tasks on informatics concepts were created. Resent years many countries, and Lithuania among them, have been developing informatics (computer science, computing), or digital technologies, curriculum for primary school level. Usually the curriculum is based on integration with other subjects, nevertheless the principles and concepts of informatics are needed to be introduced. The key components and competence areas of informatics for primary school education needs to be identified and described. Main educational goal is to provide the different teaching possibilities and environments supporting various activities and to motivate pupils to discover new ideas. Constructionist teaching and learning is one of the important approaches and takes place through conceptually open learning activities in individual as well as group exploration by seeking common knowledge and understanding. [From the publication]
