The effects of different programming trainings on the computational thinking skills

In this study, the effects of Arduino IDE and C++ programming languages were investigated on the computational thinking skills of preservice teachers. The Computational Thinking Skills Scale was administered to preservice teachers. Firstly, a basic programming training was given and then it was asked to create group projects on a voluntary basis. Six of twelve groups created a project using the Arduino IDE platform and the other six created one using the C++ programming language. Accordingly, a significant difference, which is in favour of the post-test, was found in the scores of pre-tests and post-tests of Arduino IDE groups in the scale factors; creativity, algorithmic thinking, critical thinking and the total score of the scale. No significant difference was found in cooperativity and problem solving factors. Also, the results of the study did not reveal any significant difference between the scores of pre and post-tests of C++ project groups and overall scores of different groups.