Centre for Computing Science Education

A lack of diversity amongst computing students remains an enduring and important issue. Despite many initiatives to broaden participation in computing, when learners electively choose subjects, the majority of computing students are still white and male. In England, the education system is organised so that children attend primary education until the age of 11 and then move into secondary education. This can lead to a knowledge gap about how diverse groups of pupils effectively transition across phases and maintain their interest in computing. Previous research has identified that physical computing approaches can increase pupils’ interest and motivation in computing. Further research is needed to connect these approaches with psychological and learning sciences theories to deepen our understanding of how to effectively teach diverse groups of learners.