Research Article

The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students' Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy

Volume: 16 Number: 1 June 30, 2026
TR EN

The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students' Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the TÜBİTAK 4004 project- based training program entitled "We Are in a Wallless Learning Environment Based on Algorithmic Thinking" on seventh- grade students' perceptions of their computational thinking (CT) skills. This study employed a one- group pretest– posttest quasi-experimental design. The participants consisted of 29 seventh- grade students from İkizce district of Ordu Province, Türkiye, selected through purposive sampling. During the five-day training program, students participated in a variety of nature- inspired and outdoor learning activities encompassing engineering, robotics and coding, algorithmic thinking, astronomy, social sciences and humanities, art, STEAM, and biodiversity. Within this framework, students engaged in field trips, observations, trekking, and astronomy activities structured around the core stages of computational thinking, including problem identification, solution generation, decomposition of solutions into sequential steps, and evaluation. Data were collected using the Computational Thinking Skills Perception Scale. The findings indicated that the training program had a positive effect on students' perceptions of their computational thinking skills, with particularly strong effects observed in the subdimensions of algorithm design, self-confidence, and data processing. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention did not differ significantly by gender, except for the data processing subdimension, in which female students demonstrated significantly higher gains than male students. The findings are discussed in relation to the relevant literature, and several recommendations for future research and educational practice are provided.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK 4004 – Nature Education and Science Schools Program

Project Number

224B319

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with research and publication ethics. Informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the research process, and participation was based on voluntariness. All activities carried out within the scope of the project were conducted in compliance with the ethical principles approved by the Ethics Committee of Ondokuz Mayıs University, within the framework of the TÜBİTAK 4004 – Nature Education and Science Schools Program.

Thanks

This paper was carried out within the scope of the project titled “We Are in a Wall-less Learning Environment Based on Algorithmic Thinking” (Project No: 224B319), supported under the TÜBİTAK 4004 – Nature Education and Science Schools Program conducted by the Science and Society Department (BİTO) of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK).

References

  1. Adorni, G., Artico, I., Piatti, A., Lutz, E., Gambardella, L. M., Negrini, L., Mondada, F., & Assaf, D. (2024). Development of algorithmic thinking skills in K–12 education: A comparative study of unplugged and digital assessment instruments. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 15, 100466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100466
  2. Akay, C. (2013). Ortaokul öğrencilerinin TÜBİTAK “4004 yapıyorum öğreniyorum yaz bilim okulu” projesi sonrası bilim kavramına yönelik görüşleri. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 9(2), 326-338. https://doi.org/10.17860/efd.81087
  3. Alsancak Sarıkaya, D. (2019). Programlama öğretiminin bilgi işlemsel düşünme becerisine etkisi. Türkiye Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 23(2), 575–590. https://izlik.org/JA48EN25TY
  4. Angeli, C., & Valanides, N. (2020). Developing young children's computational thinking with educational robotics: An interaction effect between gender and scaffolding strategy. Computers in Human Behavior, 105, 105954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.03.018
  5. Arslanhan, A., & Artun, H. (2021). Bilgi işlemsel düşünme becerilerinin fen öğretimine entegrasyonu hakkında öğretmen görüşleri. Eğitim Bilim ve Araştırma Dergisi, 2(2), 108–121. https://izlik.org/JA68DG26AG
  6. Atiker, B. (2019). Programlama öğretiminde ortaokul öğrencilerinin bilgi işlemsel düşünme becerilerinin başarıya etkileri, (Yayınlanmamış doktora tezi). İstanbul Üniversitesi. (2026, February 20). Retreived from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
  7. Avcı, E., Özenir, Ö. S., Kurt, M., & Atik, S. (2015). TÜBİTAK 4004 doğa eğitimi ve bilim okulları kapsamında ortaokul öğrencilerine yönelik gerçekleştirilen “Bizim Deniz Akdeniz” projesinin değerlendirilmesi. Amasya Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 4(2), 312–333. https://izlik.org/JA77ZW94MG
  8. Ayazoğlu, Ö. (2023). Veri bilimi etkinliklerinin ortaokul öğrencilerinin bilgi işlemsel düşünme becerilerine etkisi (Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi). Sakarya Üniversitesi. (2026, February 20). Retreived from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Out-of-School Learning

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

October 28, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 1

APA
Mehel, F., Çimşir, S., Abdüsselam, M. S., & Bal İncebacak, B. (2026). The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy. Adıyaman University Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(1), 221-249. https://doi.org/10.17984/adyuebd.1812246
AMA
1.Mehel F, Çimşir S, Abdüsselam MS, Bal İncebacak B. The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy. AUJES. 2026;16(1):221-249. doi:10.17984/adyuebd.1812246
Chicago
Mehel, Feyzanur, Serap Çimşir, Mustafa Serkan Abdüsselam, and Belgin Bal İncebacak. 2026. “The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy”. Adıyaman University Journal of Educational Sciences 16 (1): 221-49. https://doi.org/10.17984/adyuebd.1812246.
EndNote
Mehel F, Çimşir S, Abdüsselam MS, Bal İncebacak B (June 1, 2026) The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy. Adıyaman University Journal of Educational Sciences 16 1 221–249.
IEEE
[1]F. Mehel, S. Çimşir, M. S. Abdüsselam, and B. Bal İncebacak, “The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy”, AUJES, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 221–249, June 2026, doi: 10.17984/adyuebd.1812246.
ISNAD
Mehel, Feyzanur - Çimşir, Serap - Abdüsselam, Mustafa Serkan - Bal İncebacak, Belgin. “The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy”. Adıyaman University Journal of Educational Sciences 16/1 (June 1, 2026): 221-249. https://doi.org/10.17984/adyuebd.1812246.
JAMA
1.Mehel F, Çimşir S, Abdüsselam MS, Bal İncebacak B. The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy. AUJES. 2026;16:221–249.
MLA
Mehel, Feyzanur, et al. “The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy”. Adıyaman University Journal of Educational Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 221-49, doi:10.17984/adyuebd.1812246.
Vancouver
1.Feyzanur Mehel, Serap Çimşir, Mustafa Serkan Abdüsselam, Belgin Bal İncebacak. The Effect of Algorithmic Thinking Education in Nature on Seventh Grade Students’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy. AUJES. 2026 Jun. 1;16(1):221-49. doi:10.17984/adyuebd.1812246

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
download?token=eyJhdXRoX3JvbGVzIjpbXSwiZW5kcG9pbnQiOiJqb3VybmFsIiwib3JpZ2luYWxuYW1lIjoiaW1hZ2UucG5nIiwicGF0aCI6IjhjZjIvYWI3MC85YzA3LzZhM2VhNTBmOTEzY2U2LjQ0NTI5MTkwLnBuZyIsImV4cCI6MTc4MjQ5Mzk4Mywibm9uY2UiOiJiMjFmZDc1NzM0NzA3ODIyOWU5ZjdjMWYzZmEzZDk0YiJ9.SmVLJO-X7GiAps7i_vBlnH-6LrTnotWzf1m_VixVNWA This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0