Grundskoleelevers design i lärande : En studie om lärprocesser i programmering

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is to contribute to the knowledge about how pupils design their learning in programming. It is mainly the learning process, how pupils deal with problems in programming and how they become, are and remain engaged in the tasks, which is of interest. Programming can be understood in many ways; coding, a digital competence, creativity, or ways to solve problems. The digitalisation of society has also evoked a need to learn programming from an early age in compulsory school. In this study, programming is seen as a part of the digital competence that all pupils should have the opportunity to develop, which is a common thread that runs throughout compulsory school.  The study was conducted during programming lessons at three science centres in Sweden. The centres had previous experience in teaching programming. This was used at the time of the study by schools that in this way could offer pupils to try programming even before it became part of the compulsory teaching. The lessons were adapted for novices in programming and were conducted as part of the regular school day for pupils in grades 1-8.  The theoretical framework is based on design-oriented theory with a focus on how settings and design for learning includes both opportunities and dilemmas for learning. It provides a basis for the analysis of pupils’ approaches when learning programming as well as how different types of engagement relates to their design in learning. The results are presented in two articles, which contribute with different aspects of learning. Together the articles provide a picture of pupils’ learning design within programming in compulsory school.   The first article highlights knowledge of five different approaches that pupils used to solve assignments using programming. The qualitatively different ways that pupils used during the observed lessons were mathematically, trial and error, step-by-step, routine as well as aesthetically.  Each of these approaches allows pupils to use and practice different abilities that are important for programming. The abilities are compared to, but not equal to computational thinking (CT), which (in its turn) is linked to competencies that are important for an active participation in a digital society.   The second article contributes to the understanding of how behavioural, emotional, and cognitive engagement can be identified when pupils are learning programming. To understand how the different types of engagement are individually important, yet intertwined and influencing each other, is keen knowledge. The results show how different types of engagement become visible during programming lessons. Furthermore, it is discussed how the pupils’ identified engagement can be related to how their learning process is designed.  In the study, taken as a whole, the results of the two articles show how pupils become designers in their programming learning process. The pupils designed their learning throughout their learning process regarding to the settings, to the approach they used and in the way they became engaged.