Table 1 Identified episodes of teachers and students engaging in computational play
Episode | Description | Duration |
|---|---|---|
“Cupid” (spin the bottle) | Three teachers built a spinning object called “Cupid”, exploring the relationships between rubber bands, tensions, friction, and momentum | 3 sessions, 270 min |
Playing with LEDs | A college professor, middle school students, and teachers try to determine how strings of LEDs work in order to embed them in a bicycle car wash | 1 session, 45 min |
Thunkable & Micro:bits | A teacher tries to get an app programming platform to “talk” to the Micro:bit for a larger project focused on distributing sports equipment for free to youth in the city | 2 sessions, 360 min |
Conductive Fruit | Two students and a teacher explore whether fruit is conductive and what rules govern that | 1 session, 30 min |
4-bar Linkage-Llamas | One teacher systematically examines different 4-bar linkages to animate a llama riding on a sailboat | 3 sessions, 270 min |
Micro:bit Tales | Two teachers explore the features of the Micro:bit by narrating stories showing icons of happy and sad faces on the LED array | 1 session, 90 min |
Round and Round | Two teachers built a planetary gear system powered by a simple hobby motor | 3 sessions, 360 min |