Pre-service pre-school teachers' opinions about using block-based coding/scratch

Abstract

"Abstract: In this study, it was aimed to examine the pre-service pre-school teachers’ opinions about using block-based coding/Scratch in education. 28 pre-service pre-school teachers were participated studying at a public university in a Marmara province region. Within the scope of the study, pre-service teachers were trained on the block-based coding Scratch program for four weeks. A semi-structured interview form consisting of 12 questions was used to determine the opinions of the participants. The data of the study were analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. As a result of the study, 85.71% of pre-school teacher candidates stated that block-based coding education should start at an early age like a language education, this education is important as a necessity of the technology age and all students should benefit from this education in order to provide an effective education, 14.25% of teacher candidates specified that this education is untimely for younger age levels and should not be given to everyone. In addition, the pre-service teachers stated that the block-based coding/Scratch program training helped them gain new ideas in terms of creating materials, improved their creativity and contributed to design abstract material in addition to concrete ones. Additionally, 46.42% of pre-service teachers stated that block-based coding education should start between the ages of 5-7. In this context, it is recommended to provide coding education both in pre-school and undergraduate education."