Application of Coding Unplugged to Improve Computational Thinking in Respiratory System Topic at Elementary School

Abstract

Computational thinking is an essential skill that needs to be developed from elementary school to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century. This study aims to describe the level of computational thinking of fifth-grade students at Elementary School of 111 Pekanbaru after participating in learning using coding unplugged-based worksheets on the topic of the respiratory system. The study employed a descriptive quantitative approach with 35 students as subjects. The instrument used was an objective multiple-choice test covering four computational thinking indicators: decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means and percentage scores per indicator. The results showed that decomposition reached 82.5% (high category) and pattern recognition 83.8% (high category), while abstraction obtained 75.24% (moderate category) and analysis 79.05% (moderate category). Overall, the coding unplugged approach proved effective in encouraging students to think systematically and logically without relying on digital devices. This study implies that teachers need to design learning activities that explicitly train abstraction and analytical skills through contextual problem-based approaches.