Date of Award

4-5-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

School Name

Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education

Department

Education

Major Advisor

Dr. Grant Smith

Second Advisor

Dr. Jessica Ivy

Third Advisor

Dr. Robert Kelley

Abstract

This study examined whether exposure to coding through a 12-week coding camp would change females’ attitudes as coders and ultimately create more interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). The participants for my study included fourth- and fifth-grade girls in a public school in a lower Midwest metropolitan area. The study was conducted in a classroom within their school during the fall of the 2023–2024 school year. The participants attended a 12-week (September through November) coding camp that took one hour each week. During the coding camp, the participants learned computer coding using a course from code.org. There were 19 participants at the program's start and 13 at the end. Participants used school-issued Chromebooks and Google Classroom to access their pre- and post-test materials. The two data collection tools utilized were the Elementary Student Coding Attitudes Survey (ESCAS) and the STEM Career Interest Survey (S-CIS). The data was analyzed quantitatively to determine if an increase in the two constructs (attitudes and interest) had occurred. This was accomplished by utilizing a single group pre-post-test research design.

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