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research-article

Identifying embodied metaphors for computing education

Authors:

Andrew Manches,

Peter E. McKenna,

Gnanathusharan Rajendran,

Judy RobertsonAuthors Info & Claims

Volume 105, Issue C

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.12.037

Published: 01 April 2020 Publication History

Abstract

Computing education is increasing in global importance, with calls for greater understanding of conceptual development that can inform pedagogy. Here, we report a study investigating elementary computing concepts through the lens of Embodied Cognition. Sixteen students (9 female) studying university-level computing were asked to explain their understanding of computing concepts (without materials) in individually video-recorded sessions. We analysed the gestures generated for three elementary concepts: algorithms, loops, and conditional statements. In total, 368 representational gestures were identified across 48 (16 × 3) explanations, thereby providing evidence that offline thinking in this domain is embodied. Our analysis of representational gestures showed that participants drew upon two overarching embodied metaphors in their explanations: 1) Computing Constructs as Physical Objects, in which participants simulated manipulating physical objects (e.g., pinching) when referring to range of computing constructs, and 2) Computing Processes as Motion along a Path, whereby participants moved their hands along one of three body-based axes when referring to temporal sequences. We contrast our findings to similar research in mathematics and discuss implications for computing pedagogy – namely the role of gesture in the classroom and technologies that can exploit embodied metaphors.

Highlights

•

16 students generated 368 representational gestures to explain 3 computing concepts.

•

Analysis revealed two embodied metaphors to communicate constructs and processes.

•

Findings support claim that thinking in computing is embodied.

•

Implications discussed for use of gestures and tool design in computing education.

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Cited By

Harper CTran KCooper SStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)Conceptual Metaphor Theory in Action: Insights into Student Understanding of Computing ConceptsProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630812(463-469)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3626252.3630812
Zhang XChen YHu LBao YTu YHwang G(2024)A metaphor-based robot programming approach to facilitating young children’s computational thinking and positive learning behaviorsComputers & Education10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105039215:COnline publication date: 1-Jul-2024
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Li QYang S(2024)Development and Evaluation of Embodied Metaphors for Exergame Design: Considering Older Adults’ Bodily Experiences and Individual PerceptionsHuman Aspects of IT for the Aged Population10.1007/978-3-031-61543-6_4(43-58)Online publication date: 29-Jun-2024
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cover image Computers in Human Behavior

Computers in Human Behavior Volume 105, Issue C

Apr 2020

361 pages

ISSN:0747-5632

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Copyright © 2019.

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Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 April 2020

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Cited By

Harper CTran KCooper SStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)Conceptual Metaphor Theory in Action: Insights into Student Understanding of Computing ConceptsProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630812(463-469)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3626252.3630812
Zhang XChen YHu LBao YTu YHwang G(2024)A metaphor-based robot programming approach to facilitating young children’s computational thinking and positive learning behaviorsComputers & Education10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105039215:COnline publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105039
Li QYang S(2024)Development and Evaluation of Embodied Metaphors for Exergame Design: Considering Older Adults’ Bodily Experiences and Individual PerceptionsHuman Aspects of IT for the Aged Population10.1007/978-3-031-61543-6_4(43-58)Online publication date: 29-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-61543-6_4
Gerosa AKallia MCutts Q(2023)A Systematic Literature Review on Physical and Action Based Activities in Computing Education for Early Years and PrimaryProceedings of the 18th WiPSCE Conference on Primary and Secondary Computing Education Research10.1145/3605468.3605500(1-10)Online publication date: 27-Sep-2023
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Almjally AHowland KGood Jdu Boulay B(2023)Investigating primary school children’s embodied expression of programming conceptsInternational Journal of Child-Computer Interaction10.1016/j.ijcci.2023.10057436:COnline publication date: 1-Jun-2023
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Becker BGallagher DDenny PPrather JGostomski CNorris KPowell GMerkle LDoyle MSheard JSoh LDorn B(2022)From the Horse's Mouth: The Words We Use to Teach Diverse Student Groups Across Three ContinentsProceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education - Volume 110.1145/3478431.3499392(71-77)Online publication date: 22-Feb-2022
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Becker B(2021)The Roles and Challenges of Computing Terminology in Non-Computing DisciplinesProceedings of the 2021 Conference on United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research10.1145/3481282.3481284(1-7)Online publication date: 2-Sep-2021
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Musaeus LMusaeus PSchulte CBecker BDivitini MBarendsen E(2021)Computing and Gestures in High School Biology EducationProceedings of the 26th ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3430665.3456307(533-539)Online publication date: 26-Jun-2021
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Manches APlowman L(2021)Smart toys and children’s understanding of personal dataInternational Journal of Child-Computer Interaction10.1016/j.ijcci.2021.10033330:COnline publication date: 1-Dec-2021
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Almjally AHowland KGood JRubegni EVasalou AParés NSawhney N(2020)Investigating children's spontaneous gestures when programming using TUIs and GUIsProceedings of the Interaction Design and Children Conference10.1145/3392063.3394408(36-48)Online publication date: 21-Jun-2020
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