The effect of production with informatics pilot application on 5th grade students' problem solving skills and attitudes towards coding

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the training provided within the scope of the Production with Informatics Pilot Application on 5th grade students' problem-solving skills and attitudes of towards coding. The research was carried out using the mixed method in which quantitative and qualitative data are used together. In the quantitative dimension of the research, one group pretest-posttest design, one of the experimental designs, was used. The quantitative dimension of the research was carried out with 130 5th grade students of Tokat Fevzi Çakmak Secondary School, which is one of the 150 schools selected for the Production with Informatics Pilot Practice across Turkey by the Ministry of National Education. The qualitative dimension of the research was conducted based on the case study design. The qualitative dimension was carried out with a total of 10 students, 4 male and 6 female, from the 5th grade students who attended the same pilot school and participated in the experimental process. Criterion sampling method was used while choosing students. Three different data collection tools were used in the study. "Problem Solving Inventory for Children" and "Middle School Students' Attitude Scale towards Coding" were used as data collection tools in the quantitative dimension of the study. In the qualitative aspect of the research, a semi-structured interview form was used to gather students' opinions. Paired samples t-test, which is a parametric test, was used to see whether there was a statistical difference between students' pretest and posttest results of problem solving and coding. According to the research findings, it was determined that students' mean scores of problem solving skills inventory was significantly different after the training within the scope of the Production with Informatics Pilot Application. Accordingly, it was concluded that the Production with Informatics Pilot Application increased the problem solving skills of the 5th grade students in a positive way. There was no statistically significant difference between the pre and post test mean scores of the attitude scale towards coding. Accordingly, it was concluded that the Production with Informatics Pilot Application did not significantly change the 5th grade students' attitudes towards coding. When the pretest-posttest mean scores of the scale were examined, it was seen that the trainings had a positive effect on the students' attitudes towards coding, but this effect was not significant. When the students' views on the effect of the Production with Informatics Pilot Application on the their problem solving skills and attitudes towards coding were analyzed, it was determined that the students had fun during the training they received within the scope of the applications, their interest in the lesson increased and their negative thoughts changed, they enjoyed making games and applications with their imagination during the activities, they had difficulty in resizing the objects in the 3D design activities but overcame them with the help of their teachers, they completed most of the activities during the coursehours, and they sought solutions to difficulties they encountered during activities. When the results of the interviews are evaluated as a whole, it was revealed that the coding and 3D design activities given within the scope of the Production with Informatics Pilot Application improved the problem solving and algorithmic thinking skills of the students, positively changed their prejudices about coding and 3D design, and instilled the idea making design or software that will benefit people in their future. Accordingly, it has been determined that the Production with Informatics Pilot Application had a positive effect on students and provided positive contributions.