Is Computational Empowerment Promoted in the Hour of Code? Analyzing Opportunities for Conceptual, Creative, and Critical Engagement in the Design of Introductory Computing Activities

Abstract

Recently, computing education research has foregrounded the need to design activities to promote computational empowerment by engaging learners creatively in the development of technology, fostering critical reflection about computing, and their understanding of the role of computing in society and their own lives. In this paper, we focus on introductory computing activities that are part of the Hour of Code, an event that has successfully reached hundreds of millions of youth. We examine the conceptual, critical, and creative engagement opportunities in 340+ Hour of Code activities offered to youth during the 2021 CS Education Week. Our analysis shows that while most activities (90.26%) were designed for conceptual engagement with computing, only 11.46% provided opportunities for creative engagement, while only 1.15% promoted critical engagement with the discipline. We discuss future directions for designing, curating, and implementing Hour of Code activities that promote computational empowerment among youth.