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About

Lauren Barth-Cohen is a prominent education researcher whose work sits at the intersection of computational thinking, elementary education, and robotics-based learning. She has made significant contributions to understanding how young students develop problem-solving and programming skills, with a particular focus on bridging computational thinking across everyday reasoning and formal coding contexts. Her most influential work, "Assessing elementary students' computational thinking in everyday reasoning and robotics programming" (2017), has garnered an impressive 412 citations, establishing her as a leading voice in K-12 computational thinking research. This foundational study, complemented by her 2020 follow-up connecting CT across programming and everyday contexts, reflects her sustained commitment to developing meaningful curriculum and assessment tools for young learners. Central to this work is her innovative use of humanoid robotics to engage elementary students, making abstract computational concepts tangible and accessible. Barth-Cohen's research also explores how students interpret and navigate multiple representations in robotics programming environments, highlighting her nuanced understanding of cognitive processes in technology-rich classrooms. Her "Making in the Middle" project further demonstrates her interest in hands-on, embodied learning experiences. Overall, her scholarship provides educators with practical frameworks for cultivating computational literacy from the earliest stages of schooling.