Towards Computational Play: Designing Open-Ended Play-Responsive Environments Supporting Computational Thinking in Early Childhood Education and Care

Eva Brooks*, Susanne Dau, Lykke Brogaard Bertel, Francesca Granone, Emma Edstrand, Elin Kirsti Lie Reikerås

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Computational play is a novel concept and scarcely researched indicating that there is a need for moving beyond deficient models of Computational Thinking (CT) to more robust knowledge by integrating overlooked needs and interests of children and thus engaging them more substantially in computational play on their own premises. However, outcomes from the authors’ previous studies on digital and computational play in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in a Nordic context demonstrate that digital technology has the potential to reconfigure play activities supporting children’s computational play. Based on a participatory design approach using workshops as a method, the study seeks answers to how play can be used as a pedagogical tool to promote children’s computational explorations, and also the other way around, how computational exploration can inspire and enrich children’s play in ECEC. The aim of the workshop activity is to build a dialogue between researchers, ECEC children and their teachers to integrate computational play into mathematics in ECEC practices. The study will contribute to how an open-ended play-responsive approach to computational play can promote children’s conceptual understanding and how it can be facilitated. The expected outcomes will extend the knowledge of computational play in ECEC practices by incorporating identified good practices and guidelines.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDesign, Learning, and Innovation : 8th EAI International Conference, DLI 2023, Aalborg, Denmark, November 6–7, 2023, Proceedings
EditorsEva Brooks, Anders Kalsgaard Møller, Emma Edstrand
Number of pages11
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2024
Pages144-154
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-67306-1
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-67307-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Event8th EAI International Conference on Design, Learning and Innovation, DLI 2023 - Aalborg, Denmark
Duration: 6 Nov 20237 Nov 2023

Conference

Conference8th EAI International Conference on Design, Learning and Innovation, DLI 2023
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityAalborg
Period06/11/202307/11/2023
SeriesLecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, LNICST
Volume589 LNICST
ISSN1867-8211

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2024.

Keywords

  • Computational Play
  • Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Open-Ended Play-Responsive Environments
  • Participatory Design
  • Workshops

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