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Supporting Computational Algorithmic Thinking (SCAT): Understanding the Development of Computational Algorithmic Thinking Capabilities in African-American Middle-School Girls Through Game Design

Computational algorithmic thinking (CAT) is the ability to design, implement, and assess the implementation of algorithms to solve a range of problems. It involves identifying and understanding a problem, articulating an algorithm or set of algorithms in the form of a solution to the problem, implementing that solution in such a way that it solves the problem, and evaluating the solution based on some set of criteria. This paper not only introduces and describes CAT as explored through the Supporting Computational Algorithmic Thinking (SCAT) project, but it also presents insights from preliminary analysis of the data. SCAT is an on-going longitudinal between-subjects research project and enrichment program that guides African-American middle school girls through the iterative game design cycle resulting in a set of complex games with themes focused on social change.