Interview With Jessica Yauney

Author Biography

Article Summary

Hour of Code and Students' Perceptions of Computer Science (2022) by Scott R. Bartholomew and Jessica Yauney examines the effects of Hour of Code (HoC) on K-12 students. It takes the findings from over 1000 students who have completed HoC activities. Students where given Pre- and Post-surveys that asked questions surrounding there exposure to computer science, if they will study coding in the future. Questions where not only agree/disagree questions, but there were also questions that prompted students to reflect on coding as a whole.

As identified in the study, Hour of Code is "a program created in 2013 which tasks teachers with devoting one hour to complete pre-developed CS activities with their students" (2022). The program features often themed and game-like activities with varying difficulties that ease students into the world of coding; "Minecraft Hour of Code" being the activity discussed in the study.

The methodology recruited twenty 7th grade teachers at 14 schools across four school districts in a Western state in the United States. All teachers were Technology & Engineering Education instructors. There were three groups selected for the test. A control group (A), an HoC Digital Activity group (B), and a group that included a discussion about Computer Science following the suggestions provided in "Start your Hour of Code strong" as well as the HoC Digital Activity (C). The results were calculated and processed using Single factor ANOVA statistical techniques.

"Students in group A had a positive shift in their responses to the question regarding their ability to learn to code, while groups B and C had a negative shift". It is also important to note that the results showed consistently that group B, which was the group that only engaged with the Hour of Code activity, had the most negative outcomes.

Interview

Connections Summary

In the interview, along with in the paper the focus was on technology in regards to coding. The interview focused on Hour of Code and research that was done regarding individuals' interest towards it. Throughout the interview there were discussions on the importance of having a good mentor, making things relevant for students and working collaboratively. When taking classes in the summer it was essential that the mentors we had were passionate about their work and were able to provide the students with enthusiasm and knowledge. This way the students could expand their knowledge and dive deeper into the material. Jessica also highlighted in the interview that it is important to ensure that your mentors have enough training and knowledge, and are demonstrably competent in what they are teaching. It is also essential that they have enough support so, it is a positive experience for everyone involved. This relates again to the summer and multiple discussions the technology education class of 2023 have had with regards to the importance of having a qualified teacher. In certain instances there have been teachers employed as technology education teachers who have not completed the technology program. When looking at these facts it’s hard to imagine that the relationship between mentors and students is strong. Without that background knowledge it is safe to assume there is a lack of skills and passion that is needed to create the ideal learning environment.

Reminiscing on one of the courses taken by our class in the summer of 2022, it was easy to recognize and connect with certain points Jessica was making. She states how it is important to make what you are teaching relevant to the students to show them the importance of coding. This was done very well in the computer technology systems course. Our class was faced with mini tasks where we would have to use coding to solve problems, such as make an LED light blink or get a camera to take an automatic picture. For the final assessment the class had to create a security system using all of the skills that had been demonstrated thus far. When doing the final assignment it was clear to see how important coding was to the “real” world and all of the benefits it had. Recently the technology class has been working with arduino kits in robotics. We have been able to see how it is possible to program Christmas lights to blink with a certain melody. By making the content relatable to everyday life, it peaks interest and emphasizes to students how important the material is.

Before even completing any coding courses, a lot of people in the program thought that coding was going to be a very individual task where one would be sat at a computer all day with little interaction between peers. When actually stepping into that environment it is easy to see how erroneous this statement is. Coding is problem solving and troubleshooting, and as the class of 2023 has learned in the program and as Jessica mentions in the interview, coding is very much a collaborative process. Whether it be seeking the help of a peer or bouncing ideas off of one another, coding is very much a team effort.