The Analysis of Informatics Gifted Elementary Students’ Computational Problem Solving Approaches in Puzzle-Based Learning

Eunkyoung Lee; Jeongwon Choi; Lee Youngjun

Journal of The Korea Society of Computer and Information

Abbr : JKSCI
2014, 19(1), pp.191-201
Publisher : The Korean Society Of Computer And Information
Research Area : Computer Science

Eunkyoung Lee ¹ , Jeongwon Choi ² , Lee Youngjun ³

¹ 한국교육과정평가원
² 한국교원대학교
³ 한국교원대학교

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to propose strategies of puzzle-based learning for Informatics giftededucation through analyzing Informatics gifted elementary students’ computational problem solvingapproaches in puzzle-based learning contexts. Six types of educational puzzles, which areconstraints, optimization, probability, statistically speaking, pattern recognition, and strategy, were used in teaching 14 Informatics gifted students for 8 sessions. The results of pre and posttest and each students’ answers were analyzed to identify why students were not able to solve thepuzzles. We also analysed what essential computational strategies are needed to solve each type ofpuzzles, and what students did not know in solving puzzle problems. We identified some problemscaused by puzzle representation methods, and various students’ intuitions that disturb puzzlesolving. Also, we identified essential computational strategies to solve puzzles: backtracking,dynamic programming, abstraction, modeling, and reduction of big problem. However, students haddifficulties in applying these strategies to solve their puzzle problems. We proposed the revisedpuzzle-based learning strategies, which is based on the improved problem representation,just-in-time cognitive feedbacks, and web-based learning system.
KEYWORDS

Puzzle-Based Learning , Computational Thinking , Informatics Gifted Education
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