School Library Research article examines computational thinking and curriculum integration

For Immediate Release
Fri, 06/29/2018

Contact:

Jennifer Habley

Manager, Web Communications

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

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jhabley@ala.org

CHICAGO – New research published in the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) peer-reviewed online journal, School Library Research (SLR), examines the ways computational thinking can be better incorporated into graduate-level library science curriculum. SLR promotes and publishes high-quality original research concerning the management, implementation and evaluation of school library programs. Articles can be accessed for free at www.ala.org/aasl/slr.

Noticing librarians often perceive they lack the expertise or confidence required to deliver computer science and other related STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skill education, researchers examine the ways computational thinking can be better incorporated into graduate-level library science curriculum. In their article, "Incorporating Computational Thinking into Library Graduate Course Goals and Objectives,"  Natalie Greene Taylor, Jennifer Moore, Marijke Visser, and Colette Drouillard share their research of how six graduate-level faculty redesigned their courses related to school and public library youth services to incorporate computational thinking concepts.

Taylor, Moore, Visser, and Drouillard examined how computational thinking concepts were incorporated into the syllabi objectives, how these concepts influenced the course objectives from previous iterations of these courses, and how various accreditation and state requirements influenced the development of course objectives. Their findings can inform course development of graduate-level library science curriculum and document the ways existing standards align with the developing need for computational thinking, computer science, and STEM learning within the curriculum.

School Library Research (ISSN: 2165-1019) is the successor to School Library Media Research (ISSN: 1523-4320) and School Library Media Quarterly Online. The journal is peer-reviewed, indexed by H. W. Wilson's Library Literature and by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology and continues to welcome manuscripts that focus on high-quality original research concerning the management, implementation and evaluation of school library programs.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.