The effects of computer programming on elementary school students' academic achievement and attitudes towards computer

Abstract

Computer programming education for children in our country, new emerging and bringing
together the right ingredients in order to achieve success in this field and application of information
about the way the investigation is of utmost importance. According to many studies, the computer is seen
by children as an entertainment, a game and a social media tools. Additionally, many individuals consider
to be a device that the computer is harmful to children. As a result, some negative thoughts, perceptions
and attitudes are seen to occur. In this research, the children of computer programming training aim to
reveal the effects of attitudes towards computers. Research, during the spring semester of the 2012-2013
academic year with a total of 58 elementary school students in 7th grade was conducted using a singlegroup quasi-experimental design. In the research, the academic achievement of the students in computer
programming education was calculated according to the t-test analysis with the data obtained pre-test
and post-test measurements. It was determined that there was a significant difference in academic
achievement scores in favor of post-test. In the study, the attitude scale of the students' attitudes towards
computer in the pre-test application mean score [t = 14.23; p <0.05] it was found that there was a
significant difference in favour of the last application ( x =162.55) with a higher mean than pre-test ( x
=106.29). As a result of computer programming education, students' attitudes towards computers has
emerged as a positive effect. Furthermore, it was found that there was a positive correlation between
students' academic achievement and their attitudes towards computer (Pearson Correlation Coefficient =
0.6)