Foundations of computer science

Justice-centered approaches to equitable computer science (CS) education\nframe CS learning as a means for advancing peace, antiracism, and social\njustice rather than war, empire, and corporations. However, most research in\njustice-centered approaches in CS education focus on K-12 learning\nenvironments. In this position paper, we review justice-centered approaches to\nCS education, problematize the lack of justice-centered approaches to CS in\nhigher education in particular, and describe a justice-centered approach for\nundergraduate Data Structures and Algorithms. Our approach emphasizes three\ncomponents: (1) ethics: critiques the sociopolitical values of data structure\nand algorithm design as well as the underlying logics of dominant computing\nculture; (2) identity: draws on culturally responsive-sustaining pedagogies to\nemphasize student identity as rooted in resistance to the dominant computing\nculture; and (3) political vision: ensures the rightful presence of political\nstruggles by reauthoring rights to frame CS learning as a force for social\njustice. Through a case study of this Critical Comparative Data Structures and\nAlgorithms pedagogy, we argue that justice-centered approaches to higher CS\neducation can help all computing students not only learn about the ethical\nimplications of nominally technical concepts, but also develop greater respect\nfor diverse epistemologies, cultures, and experiences surrounding computing\nthat are essential to creating the socially-just worlds we need.\n

Computer science is a higher education domain that still show a significant male dominance. Many research studies have highlighted the importance of diversity and gender balance in computer science related areas such as software engineering and system development. However, there is still a well-identified problem that university programmes and courses on computer science fail to attract the female audience. The objective of this study is to investigate the concept of gender-inclusive computer science (CS) education with the aim of broadening participation in CS courses and programs. This is conducted through a literature study, initially focusing on keywords and research areas, and subsequently searching into existing research. The research question that guided the study was: "What concepts can be found in literature to make computer science education more gender-inclusive?". Data were analysed thematically in a two-step analysis process inspired by the grounded theory methods of Open coding and Axial coding. Findings suggest that there is significant room for learning in this field, particularly from Critical CS education studies. The Open coding analysis showed that the findings can be categorised into eight main themes. In the Axial coding the themes were merged, refined, renamed, and centred around the main axial theme of 'Epistemological pluralism'. Other essential themes that all are related to the axial main theme were: 'Design and creativity', 'Bias awareness and ethics', 'Collaboration and communication', 'Self-regulated learning', 'Real-world applications', and 'Role models and mentorship'. The result of this study is presented through a visual model that illustrates essential aspects of inclusive computer science education. The paper also proposes various directions for future research.

Little is known about how K-12 Computer Science (CS) teachers use technology and problem-based learning (PBL) to teach CS content in the context of CS Principles curricula. Significantly, little qualitative research has been conducted in these areas in computer science education, so we lack an in-depth understanding of the complicated realities of CS teachers' experiences. This paper describes the practices and experiences of six teachers' use of technology that was implemented to support PBL in the context of a dual enrollment CS Principles course.

Computer Science Education (CSE) is one discipline that uses the growing and demanding e-learning environment to deliver the computation and technology knowledge to the learners. CSE needs practical sessions as the main part of its education process. Many Learning Management Systems (LMS) have limited resources towards virtual labs. This hinders the free and direct utilization of the software tools that are needed for CSE. As a consequence, researchers attempted to support the LMSs and develop these resources as built-in components in the LMS itself. In this direction, this paper proposes the usage of the ServiceOriented Architecture (SOA) to overcome the limitations of the LMSs towards the practical sessions of CSE. The software developer uses SOA to develop the needed resources as services and then integrates them in the LMS environment. In this paper, all experimental works are carried out on the Moodle environment since it is an open source and used at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman. Key terms: CSE, Moodle, practical tools, SOA, Compiler, Virtual Resources

In the quest to study and deliver Computer Science (CS) education reform, attention to gate-keeping teacher characteristics is imperative. Broad research in teacher education has demonstrated that teacher dispositions are an important driver of teacher motivation, professional choices, and classroom practices. Identification and measurements of teacher dispositions enables further analysis of how teacher beliefs may support or hinder effective practice in CS instruction, how teacher populations may differ, and how identified dispositions may change with exposure to various CS learning experiences. We analyzed 17 key documents produced by 12 national CS organizations using a grounded theory methodology to identify desirable attitudes and beliefs associated with CS and the CS education reform movement. The documents included standards, corporate research reports, advocacy tools for CS education, and organizational documents of professional associations for CS and CS Education. The analysis yielded several important dispositional targets for description and measurement in the area of teacher attitudes and beliefs. An analysis of 98 coded segments related to dispositions yielded consensus attitudes and beliefs. Professional documents in CS highlight an equity orientation, a teacher growth mindset, and identify key beliefs regarding (career) outcomes and epistemology of CS. It is possible, based on this analysis, to create a profile of a teacher who demonstrates the attitudes and beliefs of a reform-aligned CS teacher, the CS "Champion''. Instrument development along these factors is an important next step towards unlocking the analytical power of teacher attitudes and beliefs.

This paper explores the potential of virtual education options to fulfill policies designed to broaden participation in computer science (CS) education. Virtual education platforms inherently offer access to a wider range of students than traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Access does not preclude the various socio-economic challenges to engaging these platforms, but this format could be used to mitigate barriers to reaching groups of students that have historically been marginalized in CS courses. In 2019, Georgia passed legislation that requires all middle and high schools to offer CS courses by 2025. The legislation also allowed for virtual courses to satisfy the requirement. While the legislation is intent on broadening participation in CS education, it specifically incorporates a virtual option, making it novel among similar legislative actions across the country. In this context, we examine whether virtual CS courses increase access for marginalized student populations. As such, we explore (1) to what extent do the disparities in CS education found in brick-and-mortar classrooms also appear in virtual settings and (2) to what extent is there an association between modality and rurality on CS course enrollment. Using district enrollment data from 2012 to 2019 for CS courses in Georgia, we calculated the percentage of students in marginalized groups that enrolled in physical courses across the state compared to the percentage enrolled in statewide virtual courses to illuminate existing disparities in enrollment. We conducted this analysis at the district level to highlight variability in representative disparity and the underlying structural differences that might contribute to these disparities. Our analysis provides insight that incorporates the different levels of representative disparity districts have overall. As an early adopter of virtual CS education, the Georgia model provides valuable information for states interested in policies to broaden participation in CS courses.

Background & Context Continuously developing teachers’ knowledge, practice, and professional identity is one of the key standards for effective computer science (CS) teachers. Objective This study aims to understand the landscape of CS teachers in the United States, the professional identity they hold, and how their background and teaching context are associated with their CS teacher identity. Method Using data of 3540 teachers, we performed a two-step cluster analysis to reveal homogeneous subgroups of CS teachers. The relationship between teachers’ backgrounds and their CS teacher identity was also assessed. Findings This study identified four profiles of CS teachers based on their professional identity. . CS teacher identity is strongly associated with teachers’ Computer Science Teachers Association membership, teaching responsibility, teaching experience, and their exposure to CS coursework. Implications More professional support is needed for CS teachers, especially for early-career CS teachers, elementary school teachers, and teachers with multiple responsibilities and little CS background.

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Introduction The computing sciences are complex fields that combine both theoretical and practical components. Students successfully completing an undergraduate computer science program should have instruction in both the mathematical and theoretical foundations of computing as well as the more practical aspects of how to effectively use computers to solve problems. Software engineering, as its name implies, is more directed toward the practical aspects of how to successfully develop complex systems that meet user requirements and are reliable, usable, and maintainable. Computing Curricula 2005 recognizes the need for more extensive education to produce professional engineers than what can be reasonably provided in a typical computer science program (ACM, 2005). As such, they propose engineering be treated as a totally separate discipline within computer science education. However, while there has been some debate about the exact role engineering should have in a computer science program (Curran, 2003), the ACM Curricula has maintained the importance of engineering to all computer science students and has kept it as a core element in computer science education (ACM, 2008). For purposes of this paper, we will focus on the teaching of engineering within the computer science discipline. Unlike other topics in the computer science major, the techniques and principles taught in engineering are often first developed and refined in industry before arriving in the classroom. As commercial development techniques and tools evolve, so pedagogical methodologies change. Computer science educators have taken different approaches to teaching engineering over the years, both as a result of changing methodologies as well as individual beliefs about what teaching methods work best in a particular academic environment. This paper is a case study in applying current productivity tools (specifically Redmine) in a engineering course at our institution. The objectives of the study are to investigate how to integrate the tools into the existing structure and evaluate their impact. We describe our experience in recently changing our approach to teaching engineering to be more aligned with current tools and how to effectively use them in an academic environment. The paper begins with an overview of engineering teaching methods, then describes our traditional approach and motivation for changing, how the new approach was integrated into the course, our experience with the change, and, finally, our plans for the future Software Engineering Education Background Software Engineering is defined as the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation and maintenance of software (Petkovic, Thompson, & Todtenhoefer, 2006, p. 294). The need to teach engineering in colleges has been identified for decades. Stiller & LeBlanc (2002) point out as far back as the early 1990's, ACM Computing Curricula suggested that the at least one engineering course should be required in accredited computer science programs. They point out that the number of large projects in industry demand this and suggest that the proof of the success of these accredited computer science programs should be seen in the reduction of failure in the design and operation of large computer programs. Software engineering programs can be thought of as a replacement for the old apprenticeship programs which taught the trades to workman (Stroulia, Bauer, Craig, Reid, & Wilson, 2011). The issue, however, is how to bring this effect into the classroom. Many educators feel that current practices of teaching engineering are not adequately preparing students for the real world of development. Nurkkala & Brandle (2011) summarize the problems with current teaching approaches: * No product--students are creating projects, not commercial grade products * Short duration--single semester, or two-semester, courses impose an artificial time constraint * High turnover--new students each semester means the talent pool remains shallow and student skills are not developing based on previous experience * Low complexity--by necessity given time constraints and skill sets * No maintenance--as a result of short duration, students do not experience a key aspect of development, the maintenance phase * No customer--most engineering projects do not interface with a real customer To address these shortcomings, different approaches to teaching engineering have emerged and been proposed in the literature. …

The Computing Curricula 2001 (CC 2001) computer science volume [1] is the first professional society curriculum model for computer science to include elements of discrete mathematics as part of the core of computer science. In the roughly eight years between the release of that curriculum and SIGCSE 2010, computer science education in general has evolved in many ways, and the CC 2001 recommendations have played an influential role in that evolution. This panel reviews developments in integrating discrete mathematics into the computer science curriculum since CC 2001, how those developments have been influenced by the centrality of discrete math in the CC 2001 core, and how the role of math in computer science curricula may continue to develop in the future. The panel will address both the influence CC 2001’s discrete math recommendation has had on curricular changes to computer science courses, and what changes have taken place in the discrete math courses themselves. The panel format will consist of… ˜ A 5 minute introduction by the moderator ˜ 10 minute presentations by each panelist, each describing a specific development with which that panelist has been involved, discussing its relationship to CC 2001, and outlining what it bodes for the future ˜ 30 minutes for discussion between the audience and panel. Suggested topics for discussion include (in addition, of course, to anything that the audience wishes to introduce) the role of mathematics in computer science, whether math’s actual place in computer science curricula has changed since the publication of CC 2001, and if so how. A questionnaire handed out to audience members as they enter the panel session will help them start thinking about these issues.

Constructivist approaches to computer science education emphasize that as well as knowledge, thinking skills and processes are involved in active knowledge construction. K-12 computer science curricula must not be based on fashions and trends, but on contents and processes that are observable in various domains of computer science, that can be taught at every intellectual level, that will stay relevant in the longer term, and that are related to everyday language and/or thinking. Only recently, two empirically determined lists, one of central content concepts (algorithm, computer, data, system, etc.) and another of central process concepts (problem solving and problem posing, analyzing, classifying, generalizing, etc.), have become available for computer science education. This paper tackles the problem of finding content and process concepts to be taught in combination. Computer science experts are surveyed in order to identify combinations of content and process concepts-so-called blocks-that are relevant to computer science education. By using cluster analyses, 15 central blocks for teaching computer science in schools are determined. The results of this study may serve as a reference system for the systematic design of instruction in K-12 computer science education.

The object‐oriented model has become exceedingly attractive as the best answer to the increasingly complex needs of the software development community. The initial boasts regarding quality, reuse, concurrency, and scalability are now being substantiated by documented software development experience. It is certainly appropriate, then, for educators who teach computer science (the current preparation for emerging software developers) to examine where object‐oriented development best fits into the computer science curriculum. How much of the paradigm‐‐language, analysis, design, management‐‐ought to be addressed? At what level in an undergraduate program are object‐oriented techniques appropriate? What are the risks involved? How is the object‐oriented approach effectively taught?.

The rapid expansion of computer science (CS) education in early childhood education requires robust professional development (PD) to adequately train educators to teach CS. Traditional pedagogies often prioritize technical proficiency without respect to human values and character development. The present work employed a mixed methods design to examine whether a self-paced online PD course improved teachers’ coding skills and expanded their beliefs on virtues in CS education. Findings showed teachers significantly improved in their coding proficiency and expanded their understanding of virtues and character strengths in the teaching of coding. Implications for further research are presented.

Efforts in the United States to broaden the participation of racial and ethnic minorities in K12 computer science (CS) education often focus on the need for children to change themselves to meet the standards and norms of traditional computing education. Less attention has been paid to how CS education itself might change and adapt to cultural contexts and locations that children already participate in and find of value. In this paper, we describe efforts to change the shape and culture of CS education by designing and implementing it in and for a youth boxing gym in an African American community. We report findings from a boxing inspired CS curriculum that was designed in collaboration with boxing coaches, mentors, and academic staff members at the gym. It was piloted over the course of two six-hour workshops with 15 middle and high school age children. We focused on two issues that are relevant to broadening participation and reshaping the culture of CS education: (1) how the curriculum changed children's perceptions of CS and (2) the creative adaptations that children made to the curricular content and materials. An analysis of pre- and post-surveys using a nonparametric test showed significant positive changes in children's responses to the constructs of self-confidence and expression with CS. Vignettes of children appropriating and personalizing technologies from the workshops are used to unpack these findings. We end with a discussion about the implications of these findings for culture-based CS education in both school and community contexts.

Text mining has been successfully used to discover interesting patterns and extract useful information from analyzing massive text data exists on the internet, books and other text sources. Computer science education has become an initiative for The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the United States. Finding the right tools and technologies that can support that initiative and help students succeed and do well while studying computer science is a plus. Although the literature is rich with research for computer science education, there is no clear guide on the use of learning theories to design educational games to teach computer science. Text mining can analyze the literature to find trends for designing educational games for computer science education, in addition to identifying existing gaps. The paper presents the results from analyzing 204 papers to discover the current state of research related to computer science education, using Voyant, a text mining tool. Analysis of results should provide an insight on how learning theories have been considered/used in computer science education and guide future research through identifying what learning theories need to be considered in designing educational games to teach computer science topics, such as data structures.