Centre for Computing Science Education

2025

Mike Fellows on CS Unplugged

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:30:00 BST

Mike Fellows is one of the founders of CS Unplugged, a collection of learning activities which teach CS through hands-on practice.

Angela Zavaleta Bernuy & Oluwaseun Owojaiye on ShapeCreator Mobile.

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:30:00 GMT

Angela Zavaleta Bernuy and Oluwaseun Owojaiye are from McMaster University and have developed an app to teach maths and CS in low-resource, mobile-enabled conditions.

Samuel Skipsey & Jeremy Singer on Students Physics transitioning to C

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 13:30:00 GMT

Jeremy Singer is a Reader in Computing Science and Samuel Skipsey is a Research Fellow in Physics. They have been considering students in Physics transferring from high level languages (like Python) to low level languages (like C).

William Lau on Variation Theory in Computing Education

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:30:00 GMT

William Lau is an assistant headteacher and Computer Science teacher.

Cristina Alexandru on Group Assignments for Positive Teamwork Attitudes

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:30:00 GMT

Cristina Alexandru is a Lecturer in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh

2024

Internal Speaker: Steve Draper on Peer Interaction (PI), and the interplay of different types of research on it

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:30:00 GMT

Steve Draper is a Senior Lecturer in the Psychology & Neuroscience Education Hub at the University of Glasgow.

Maja Dornbusch on Links Between Compiler Error Messages and Sense of Belonging

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:30:00 BST

Maja Dornbusch is a Master's student undertaking a Master of Education in Computer Science, English and Educational Science at the University of Münster. In this session, she presents and leads a discussion on her 2024 ICER paper.

External Speaker: Naaz Sibia on "Exploring the Effects of Grouping by Programming Experience in Q&A Forums"

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:30:00 BST

Naaz Sibia is a PhD student at the University of Toronto. In this session, she presents and leads a discussion on her 2024 ICER paper.

Computing At Schools (CAS) Conference 2024

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 13:30:00 BST

CCSE members attended the Computing at Schools (CAS) conference 2024 in London.

ITiCSE 2024 Working Group Participation

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:30:00 BST

Anna Sollazzo and Jack parkinson share their experiences of taking part in ITiCSE Working Groups, which are a few-months-long research projects with a multi-national team of contributors.

External Speaker: Felienne Hermans on feminism in PL design

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:30:00 BST

Felienne Hermans is a professor of Computer Science Education at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She also works as a high-school CS teacher one day a week at Lyceum Kralingen in the Codasium program.

Visiting Speaker: Harold Thimbleby on digital healthcare

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:30:00 BST

Professor Harold Thimbleby is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, Swansea University.

Visiting Speaker: Tony Clear on Competencies for Software Engineers and Collective Empathy

Thu, 02 May 2024 13:30:00 BST

Dr Tony Clear is an Associate Professor at the Auckland University of Technology

Visiting Speaker: Steven Bradley on Curriculum, Enrolment and Inclusion

Thu, 02 May 2024 13:30:00 BST

Professor Steven Bradley from Durham University describes work from an ITiCSE 2023 Working Group and some follow-on studies

MSci Presentations: Zoltan Sojtory and Manuel Simonetta

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:30:00 BST

Two EAP MSci students present their research projects on large language models to support student learning and qualitative research.

Fionnuala Johnson: Accommodation of a Scientific Conception: Toward a Theory of Conceptual Change

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:30:00 GMT

CCSE PhD Student Fionnuala Johnson leads a reading group exploring Posner's Theory of Conceptual Change

John O'Donnell: Sigma16

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 13:30:00 GMT

CCSE Member and Honorary Lecturer John O'Donnell talks about his Sigma16 architecture and its use as an educational tool

2023

ICER 2023 logo over a Chicago city skyline background
ICER 2023 logo over a Chicago city skyline background

Maria Wins Honourable Mention at ICER 2023

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:30:00 BST

Maria's third ICER accolade in a row

banner image for ITICSE 2023 conference
banner image for ITICSE 2023 conference

Quintin and Maria lead an ITiCSE Working Group

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:30:00 BST

ITiCSE's WG5: Arguments for and Approaches to Adding Computing Education to Undergraduate Computer Science Programmes was led by CCSE members.

Exploring Practices and Development of Teaching Assistants in Computing Education (MSci Project Presentation)

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:30:07 BST

James Bradford presents his MSci project about attitudes and perceptions of teaching assistants in CS.

SIGCSE UK Journal Club: Quintin and Maria on code comprehension

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:00:00 BST

Quintin and Maria lead the SIGCSE UK Journal Club in March, sharing their work published at CEP '23.

CCSE Reading Group: Viviane Rehor on Augmented Parsons Puzzles

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Viviane Rehor, a master's student in the CCSE, presents her work on an augmented Parsons' puzzle implementation based on developing programming plan development

Visiting Speaker: Alexander Repenning on Explicative Programming

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Dr Alexander Repenning presents a perspective of computational thinking called Explicative Programming.

CCSE Reading Group: Waqar Nabi on ReCompute.pk

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Dr Waqar Nabi presents a new initiative to create impact in higher education CS in Pakistan.

Visiting Speaker: Violetta Lonati on the Nature of Programs

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Dr Violetta Lonati presents her working group report published at ITiCSE 2022 on the nature of programs.

2022

Visiting Speaker: Neil Brown on Registered Report Replications

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Dr Neil Brown presents his paper published at ICER 2022 on a rationale and motivation for introducing registered report replications in computing science education research

Level 4 Projects related to Computing Education Practice and/or Research

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Level 4 project students working on projects related to CS Education present their initial project proposals.

Visiting Speaker: Juho Leinonen on Automatic CS Exercise Generation

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Dr Juho Leinonen presents his award winning paper on automatic exercise and code explanation generation, originally presented at ICER 2022.

CCSE Reading Group: What makes a discipline-specific education PhD?

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:00:00 BST

Quintin and Maria lead a discussion on what makes a discipline specific education PhD.

Maria Kallia Nominated for Chair's Award at ICER 2022

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 13:00:00 BST

CCSE member Maria Kallia presented a paper at ICER 2022 and was nominated for the Chair's Award.

Fionnuala Johnson Nominated for Best Paper at ITiCSE 2022

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 13:00:00 BST

CCSE member Fionnuala Johnson presented a paper at ITiCSE 2022 and was nominated for the Best Paper award.

Visiting Speaker: Leo Porter on the Basic Data Structures Inventory

Mon, 30 May 2022 13:00:00 BST

Dr Leo Porter describes the design process for his Concept Inventory for Basic Data Structures (BDSI) and shares practical information on its delivery and interpretation.

Visiting Speaker: Leo Porter on Evidence and Practicalities of Peer Instruction

Mon, 16 May 2022 13:00:00 BST

Dr Leo Porter shares his experiences with Peer Instruction in a dual session, initially on sharing evidence and research in favour PI, followed by a practical advice session on PI delivery.

CCSE Festival Day 3: Campsie Glen

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:00:00 BST

On the third day of the CCSE Festival discussions from previous talks were continued, but most of the day was spent hiking and climbing in Campsie Glen.

CCSE Festival Day 2: Talks from Lauren Margulieux

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:00:00 BST

On the second day of the CCSE Festival, we heard talks from Lauren Margulieux from Georgia State University, who shared insights on her Multiple Conceptions Theory and guidelines for effective research methods and design in CS Education Research.

CCSE Festival Day 1: Member Talks

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:00:00 BST

Kicking off the CCSE Festival, we spent a day co-located to share brief talks by all available members on their research and their goals for the coming year.

2021

CCSE Reading Group: An overview of my PhD thesis on Understanding conceptual transfer in students learning new programming languages

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Ethel talks about her PhD thesis which she is just wrapping up, sharing some outcomes and critical thoughts about the nature of transfer from one programming language to another.

CCSE Reading Group: So Many Skills, So Little Time: A Hypothetical Discussion about Skills Deficit Interventions in Entry-Level Computing Science

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Jack leads a theoretical discussion on the nature of interventions and remedial courses in a university context.

CCSE Reading Group: Theories, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, models and constructs: Limiting research outcomes through misconceptions and misunderstandings

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Sarah leads a follow-up discussion on what theories, models and frameworks are, based on a previous CCSE reading group session, and uses Passey's 2020 paper as a vehicle.

CCSE Named Runners-up for Best Paper Award at Koli 2021

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 03:20:00 GMT

Ethel's paper entitled "Evaluating a Pedagogy for Improving Conceptual Transfer and Understanding in a Second Programming Language Learning Context" was named as a runner-up for the conference's best paper this year.

CCSE Members Published at Koli Calling 2021

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 20:56:00 GMT

Several CCSE members were successful in publishing papers at Koli Calling 2021, a prestigious Computing Science Education conference.

CCSE Reading Group: English versus Native Language for Higher Education in Computer Science: A Pilot Study

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Waqar and Taj M Khan share their findings in a study of native languages compared with English in a university CS course in Pakistan.

CCSE Reading Group: Do Popular Online Coding Tutorials Systems Address Novice Programmer Difficulties?

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Ohud presents her approach for analysing online coding tutorial systems seeking feedback and ideas for improvement and future development.

CCSE Reading Group: Graphical Scaffolding for the Learning of Data Wrangling APIs

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Lovisa shares her journey towards using graphics for scaffolding learning and understanding in data wrangling.

CCSE Reading Group: Computer education theories: What are they and how are they used?

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 13:00:00 BST

Steve leads a discussion on the award winning Malmi et al. paper: Computer education theories: What are they and how are they used?

CCSE Reading Group: Deep problems in designing a course

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:00:00 BST

Steve and Joe reflect on the difficulties faced when designing a course.

Decarbonising the Curriculum: A proposal for making Sustainability a key component of all our programmes

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:00:00 BST

Wim shares his thoughts on a pro-active approach to making the curriculum more sustainable.

CCSE Reading Group: What kind of research is (and is not) valued in the field of Computer Education Research?

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 13:00:00 BST

Steve and Joe explore research that is considered valuable in education research, eliciting extensive feedback from participants.

CCSE Reading Group: Jack Parkinson: PhD so far

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:00:00 BST

Jack presents the work he has done in the first two years of his PhD and his plans for the coming year.

CCSE Hosts UKICER 2021 Online Conference

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 13:00:00 BST

Members of the CCSE formed the local organising committee for UKICER this year and delivered a successful conference.

CCSE win Best Paper Award at ICER 2021

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:00:00 BST

Maria's paper entitled "Re-Examining Inequalities in Computer Science Participation from a Bourdieusian Sociological Perspective" was selected as the conference's best publication this year

CCSE Reading Group: What can maths and computing education learn from each other?

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Quintin gives a talk on what we can learn from maths education, and vice versa.

CCSE Reading Group: Student learnability in online learning using learning interactions

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Maha describes some routes to and challenges involved in quantifying and analysing students' online learning experiences, seeking feedback from the community on which routes to focus on.

CCSE Reading Group: Towards an Open Source IDE for Collecting Student Interactions

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMT

An open discussion session where we explore requirements and potential implementations of an educational IDE with multiple applications across several CS education contexts.

CCSE Reading Group: What pedagogical content knowledge would *you* teach future high school informatics teachers?

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Matthias Hauswirth presents developments towards a new informatics course to be integrated into the Swiss high-school context, seeking input on pedagogical content knowledge.

CCSE Reading Group: A Usability Model for Web-based Interactive Programming e-Tutorial Systems

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Reading and discussion of "A Usability Model for Web-based Interactive Programming e-Tutorial Systems", a work-in-progress paper presented by Ohud.

CCSE Reading Group: SIGCSE Journal Club - Toward an Ungraded CS0

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Reading and discussion of "Toward an Ungraded CS0" by Malan

CCSE Reading Group: Discussing "Epistemological Pluralism and the Revaluation of the Concrete", Turkle & Papert

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Reading and discussion of "Epistemological Pluralism and the Revaluation of the Concrete" by Turkle & Papert

2020

CCSE Reading Group: Discussing "Computational Thinking in Introductory Physics", Orban & Teeling-Smith

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 13:00:00 GMT

Reading and discussion of "Computational Thinking in Introductory Physics" by Orban & Teeling-Smith

CCSE Reading Group: CS Education Handbook Chapters 1 & 2 – The History of Computing Education Research and Computing Education Research Today

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 11:25:00 GMT

Reading and discussion of our own work in the context of the history and current landscape of computing education reasearch.

Seminar by Waqar Nabi: Keeping Software Engineering Students in Touch with not only What they are to Learn, but with Why

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:25:00 GMT

Waqar presents his presentation for an upcoming conference, soliciting feedback as a practice session and sharing research with the wider CCSE.

CCSE Reading group: SIGCSE Journal Club - Why Minimal Guidance During Instruction Does Not Work

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 11:25:00 GMT

We will again be running our own chapter of the SIGCSE Journal Club at 13:00 before the main UK session. The reading is a paper by Kirschner et al. on minimal guidance.

CCSE Reading Group: Handbook Chapter 7 – Qualitative Methods for Computing Education

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 11:25:00 BST

Reading and discussion of Chapter 7 from the Cambridge Handbook of Computing Education Research - Qualitative Methods for Computing Education, by Josh Tenenberg.

Seminar by Jack Parkinson: Online Small Group Sessions - 3 Scenarios

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 12:00:00 BST

Jack details three approaches to small group teaching sessions currently eing used in the School of Computing Science.

CCSE Reading Group: Handbook Chapter 4 – A Study Design Process

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 11:25:00 BST

Reading and discussion of Chapter 4 from the Cambridge Handbook of Computing Education Research - A Study Design Process, by Amy Ko and Sally Fincher

Seminar by Lovisa Sundin: Finalising the Experimental Design to Investigate whether Graphics Help People with Data Wrangling

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 11:25:00 BST

Lovisa describes a planned experiment on the use of graphics in teaching data manipulation, soliciting feedback from attending CCSE members.

Seminar by Jack Parkinson: Spatial Skills Training

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:00:00 BST

Jack presents a summary of his previous work in spatial skills training and solicits advice on data collection for a large scale project beginning in the new semester.

Seminar by Lovisa Sundin: Educational Data Mining in CCSE

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 11:25:00 BST

Lovisa Sundin presents some thoughts on future developments within the CCSE focused on Educational Data Mining.

Seminar by Robert Sheehan: An Historical Consideration of Introductory Programming Languages

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 11:29:00 GMT

Dr Robert Sheehan from the University of Auckland delivers a seminar on introductory programming languages.

CCSE Reading Group: Designing the c/c/c studio: 10 years of teaching artists to code and coders to art

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 11:25:00 GMT

Seminar: Dr Ben Swift discusses routes into CS via the arts and creative coding.

Cake Talk: The Effect of Spatial Skills Training on our First Year Computing Students

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 11:31:00 GMT

Jack Parkinson delivers the School of Computer Science's inaugural (after a lengthy hiatus) Cake Talk - optimistic, light-hearted talks to be consumed with cake - on his work with the first year cohort and spatial skills training.

CCSE Reading Group: Reflections on teaching computer systems with Sigma16 and Hydra

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 02:42:00 GMT

John O'Donnell reflects on teaching computer systems with Sigma16 and Hydra.

Changing General Approach To Teaching and Learning in Computing Science

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 02:37:51 GMT

Mireilla shares her insights and experiences from leading a programming bootcamp using team-based learning techniques.

CCSE Members Publish at CEP 2020

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 01:54:32 GMT

Fionnuala Johnson and Derek Somerville represent the CCSE at the Computing Education Practice conference.

2019

Siri Annethe Moe Jensen visits the CCSE

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 10:58:00 GMT

Discussions were had with several CCSE members about collaborations with Oslo.

Challenges for Computing Science Education in Glasgow East End and Eastern Africa

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 02:30:09 GMT

Nguiruri Nganga shares some reflections on challenges faced in CS Education in the contexts of both Glasgow's East End and generally in East Africa.

Reading Group: Using Subgoal Labels to Reduce Cognitive Load in Learning

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 17:40:00 BST

Briana Morrison visits, presenting a talk on cognitive load theory and subgoals for problems-solving processing.

Reading Group: Understanding conceptual transfer for students learning new programming languages

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 02:24:00 BST

Ethel Tshukudu leads a reading group on conceptual transfer between programming languages for novice students.

A Blank Slate: Building a University from Scratch

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 13:00:00 BST

Sebastian Dziallas visits from the brand new Fulbright University, Vietnam, to share his experiences of student-centred, trans-disciplinary curriculum design.

CCSE Thinkathon Paper wins ITiCSE ACM Europe Best Paper Award

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 09:29:00 BST

A paper about a pen-and-paper intervention for CS1CT students submitted by members of the CCSE won the ACM Europe Best Paper Award at ITiCSE 2019

CCSE ITiCSE Working Group Attendance

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 10:58:00 BST

8 CCSE members contributed to 7 Working Groups at ITiCSE 2019

Self Flipped Classroom: New Way to Teach Computer Science Students

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 02:19:05 BST

Anna Vasilchenko visits to speak about the concept of a Self Flipped Classroom.

CCSE Members Present at the University of Glasgow Learning and Teaching Conference 2019

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:50:00 BST

Naomi Clark talks about mindfulness, and Joseph Maguire sits on a panel for Technology Beyond the Virtual Learning Environment at the University of Glasgow Learning & Teaching conference.

Programming at the Deep End

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:00:00 GMT

Lovisa leads a CCSE reading group to discuss an experiment on learner behaviour and information seeking practices when learners are thrust into a new environment.

ICER Conference Award Winning Paper Reprinted in ACM Inroads

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:00:00 GMT

A paper receiving the Chair's Award (Best in Conference) at the ICER Conference 2018 has been reprinted in ACM Inroads, a Computing Science Education magazine.

Designing a multi-level programming language

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 13:00:00 GMT

In an effort to enhance teaching of fundamental concepts essential to a deeper understanding of programming, John O'Donnell presents a multi-level programming language designed to expose elements of program generation which would usually be hidden.

CCSE Reading Group: Why have academics as student advisers?

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 13:00:00 GMT

Prompted by a revision of the School of Computer Science's advising provision, Professor Quintin Cutts and Dr Steve Draper lead a CCSE discussion on the role of academic advisers for students and who should be playing this role.

Slide-less Lectures and the Challenge of Peer Instruction in Large Classes

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 13:00:00 GMT

Dr Julie Williamson leads a CCSE reading group discussion by presenting her new style of teaching level three students and sharing her experience of implementing it with a large cohort.

CCSE Members Publish and Present at CEP 2019

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 15:34:00 GMT

Quintin Cutts and Joseph Maguire represent the CCSE at the Computing Education Practice Conference 2019.

2018

Deconstructing the foundations of the computing curriculum: Computational thinking, Digital literacy, Digital Economy

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 13:00:00 GMT

Benjamin Wohl visits to present on the interplay between Digital Literacy, Digital Economy, and Computational Thinking - all of which are bound up in the English schools computing curriculum.

CCSE Members Published at ICER 2018

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 11:00:00 BST

Four CCSE members attended ICER 2018 to present a paper and a poster, and to attend the doctoral consortium.

Naomi Clark leads Mindfulness for Students Workshop

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 17:00:00 GMT

Naomi Clark leads a workshop titled "Mindfulness for Students" in collaboration with GU Positive Minds and the SRC.

Dr Joseph Maguire participates in UK Cyber Security Skills Strategy Feedback session.

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 09:30:00 GMT

Dr Joseph Maguire participates in UK Cyber Security Skills Strategy Feedback session.

Dr Joseph Maguire leads adapting teaching practice for active learning spaces session.

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Dr Joseph Maguire leads adapting teaching practice for active learning spaces session.

Dr Joseph Maguire on panel for Technology Beyond the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:10:00 BST

Dr Joseph Maguire on panel for Technology Beyond the Virtual Learning Environment at the University of Glasgow Learning and Teaching Conference.

Dr Joseph Maguire presents Beyond capture: perspectives, privacy and pedagogy at the University of St Andrews

Tue, 01 May 2018 12:00:00 BST

Dr Joseph Maguire presents Beyond capture: perspectives, privacy and pedagogy at the University of St Andrews

Dr Joseph Maguire present Assessing Student Understanding of Security with Video Assignments at the University of St Andrews

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 12:00:00 BST

Dr Joseph Maguire present Assessing Student Understanding of Security with Video Assignments at the University of St Andrews

2017

Dr Joseph Maguire presents Privacy of Personal Things in Active Learning Spaces Needs Individually Evolved Requirements at ACM SENSYS 2017.

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 15:53:00 BST

Dr Joseph Maguire presents Privacy of Personal Things in Active Learning Spaces Needs Individually Evolved Requirements at ACM SENSYS 2017.