Louise Flannery

Papers

Total Citations

1,021

H-Index

About

Louise Flannery is a pioneering researcher in early childhood education, computational thinking, and tangible learning technologies. Her work demonstrates that young children can meaningfully engage with computer programming and robotics when provided with developmentally appropriate tools. Flannery’s most influential contribution is her 2013 paper, “Computational Thinking and Tinkering: Exploration of an Early Childhood Robotics Curriculum,” which has garnered over 930 citations and established a foundational framework for integrating computational thinking into kindergarten classrooms. She was a key member of the Tangible Kindergarten project, which explored novel human-computer interaction designs to support young learners in expressing sophisticated ideas through robotics and digital storytelling. Flannery also co-authored the creative curriculum unit “Let’s Dance the ‘Robot Hokey-Pokey!’” which shows how movement and play can scaffold early programming concepts. Her research has reshaped how educators and technologists think about the cognitive and creative capacities of young children, proving that tinkering with robotics is not only possible but powerful in early learning environments. Flannery’s work continues to inspire curricula and tools that blend play, design, and computational literacy for our youngest learners.