'And What Do You Think Is inside a Computer?': Exploring 6-9 Graders' Preconceptions about Computer Functionality
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| Title: | 'And What Do You Think Is inside a Computer?': Exploring 6-9 Graders' Preconceptions about Computer Functionality |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Anna Yaghobová (ORCID |
| Source: | ACM Transactions on Computing Education. 2026 26(1). |
| Availability: | Association for Computing Machinery. 1601 Broadway 10th Floor, New York, NY 10119. Tel: 800-342-6626; Tel: 212-626-0500; Fax: 212-944-1318; e-mail: acmhelp@acm.org; Web site: http://toce.acm.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 32 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education Grade 6 Intermediate Grades Middle Schools Grade 7 Junior High Schools Secondary Education Grade 8 Grade 9 High Schools |
| Descriptors: | Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Computer Software, Computer Attitudes, Information Storage, Secondary School Students, Student Characteristics |
| Geographic Terms: | Czech Republic |
| DOI: | 10.1145/3769853 |
| ISSN: | 1946-6226 |
| Abstract: | Children encounter computers daily, but how do they understand what happens inside these machines? Existing literature has not examined children's preconceptions about computer principles sufficiently. Hence, we conducted a mixed-methods study (N = 53, n[subscript 6+7grades] = 29, n[subscript 8+9grades] = 24) in diverse regions of the Czech Republic with the aim of identifying the said preconceptions. We used 45-min-long semi-structured interviews and conducted an inductive thematic analysis, and identified 103 preconceptions, 90 of which have never been described in the literature previously. Based on their occurrence, we performed a two-step cluster analysis with automatic cluster detection, identifying three participant groups based on their knowledge level: experts, intermediates, and beginners. Experts comprehended the most abstract concepts, such as the interaction between RAM and the processor and the existence of different types of memory. Intermediates understood some abstract concepts, while beginner participants lacked understanding of most abstract concepts and viewed the computer as a magical black box. Our research significantly expands the number of identified preconceptions about computer principles. This could serve as a valuable basis for developing evidence-based, constructivist teaching materials and practices, addressing a gap that exists in many education systems. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1497189 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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