Author: Xanthippi Tsortanidou
Programme: Doctoral Programme in Education and ICT (e-learning)
Language: English
Supervisors: Dr Elena Barberà & Dr Atanasi Daradoumis
Faculty / Institute: Doctoral School
Subjects: Primary Education
Key words: imagination, unplugged, new media literacy, social-emotional, computational thinking, pedagogical framework, case study, primary education
Area of knowledge: e-Learning

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Summary

The current thesis aims to design and validate a holistic K-6 curricular framework applicable to any academic subject, in any primary school age group. The relationship between unplugged activities and imaginative pedagogies was investigated through the interpretative lens of the exploratory mixed methods research design in order to develop computational, new media literacy and social-emotional skills among primary school students. A series of publications reveals the aims of investigating the gaps (literature review); designing and examining a preliminary framework involving mixed methods grounded theory (MM-GT) methodology (a pilot study); refining and enriching this framework and validating it in three case studies by means of a mixed methods multiple case study research design (the main study); and a proposal for holistic K-6 curriculum guidelines for integrating crucial 21st century skills. The results show that partnership among these ideas can benefit students in a holistic manner at various levels, namely cognitive/intellectual, imaginative/creative, material, social, and emotional, with no need for digital tools or coding/programming, in unplugged, low-technology and information-rich learning environments.