Mr Peter Donaldson

  • Affiliate (School of Computing Science)

email: Peter.Donaldson.2@glasgow.ac.uk

Room 623, St Andrew's Building, 11 Eldon Street, Glasgow, G3 6NH

Import to contacts

ORCID iDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5984-5911

Biography

Peter Donaldson is a Lecturer in Computing Science and Education and a member of the Pedagogy, Praxis and Faith group within the School of Education. He is also a founding member of the interdisciplinary Centre for Computing Science Education (CCSE) working with teachers and schools to develop innovative methods and research to make aspects of Computing more accessible, relevant and motivating to a wider range of learners. 

Research interests

Peter's research interests include supporting the development of STEM teacher expertise; models of student cognition in Computing Science, IT and Digital Literacy; Technology Enhanced Learning; and the impact of domain specific formative assessment and feedback on learners and teachers.

Current projects include an international working group exploring early developmental activities and computing proficiency; work as part of the CAMAU research team supporting the Welsh Government and Pioneer Teachers in the development of the Science and Technology and Mathematics and Numeracy Areas of Learning and Experience; and a new MOOC and curricular project in partnership with the DataLab called Citizen Data Science.

Publications

Selected publications

Cutts, Q. , Connor, R., Michaelson, G. and Donaldson, P. (2014) Code or (Not Code): Separating Formal and Natural Language in CS Education. In: 9th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education, Berlin, Germany, 5-7 Nov 2014, pp. 20-28. ISBN 9781450332507 (doi: 10.1145/2670757.2670780)

Cutts, Q. , Robertson, J., Donaldson, P. and O’Donnell, L. (2017) An evaluation of a professional learning network for computer science teachers. Computer Science Education, 27(1), pp. 30-53. (doi: 10.1080/08993408.2017.1315958)

All publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2014
Number of items: 15.

2020

Fincher, S. et al. (2020) Notional Machines in Computing Education: The Education of Attention. In: ITiCSE-WGR '20: Proceedings of the Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, 17-18 Jun 2020, pp. 21-50. ISBN 9781450382939 (doi: 10.1145/3437800.3439202)

Atkinson, T. et al. (2020) The National Framework for Digital Literacies in Initial Teacher Education. Other. Scottish Council of Deans of Education.

2019

Szabo, C., Falkner, N., Petersen, A., Bort, H., Cunningham, K., Donaldson, P. , Hellas, A., Robinson, J. and Sheard, J. (2019) Review and Use of Learning Theories within Computer Science Education Research: Primer for Researchers and Practitioners. In: ITiCSE-WGR '19: Proceedings of the Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, Aberdeen, Scotland, 15-17 Jul 2019, pp. 89-109. ISBN 9781450375672 (doi: 10.1145/3344429.3372504)

Cutts, Q. , Barr, M. , Ada, M. B., Donaldson, P. , Draper, S. , Parkinson, J. , Singer, J. and Sundin, L. (2019) Best paper award: Experience report: thinkathon - countering an 'I got it working' mentality with pencil-and-paper exercises. ACM Inroads, 10(4), pp. 66-73. (doi: 10.1145/3368563)

Morrison-Love, D. , David, S. and Donaldson, P. (2019) Harnessing Research, Policy and Professional Expertise to Make Decisions for Learning Progression. BERA 2019, Manchester, UK, 10-12 Sep 2019.

Cutts, Q. , Barr, M. , Bikanga Ada, M. , Donaldson, P. , Draper, S. , Parkinson, J. , Singer, J. and Sundin, L. (2019) Experience Report: Thinkathon -- Countering an "I Got It Working" Mentality with Pencil-and-Paper Exercises. In: 24th Annual ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE 2019), Aberdeen, Scotland, 15-17 Jul 2019, pp. 203-209. ISBN 9781450368957 (doi: 10.1145/3304221.3319785)

Morrison-Love, D. , Donaldson, P. and Barnes, J. (2019) Design & Technology and Computer Science in the CAMAU Project: the Genesis of Learning Progression in the New Curriculum for Wales. In: Pupils Attitudes Towards Technology Conference 2019 (PATT 37): Developing a Knowledge Economy through Technology and Engineering Education, Msida, Malta, 03-06 Jun 2019,

2018

Donaldson, P. and Cutts, Q. (2018) Flexible Low-cost Activities to Develop Novice Code Comprehension Skills in Schools. In: 13th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education (WiPSCE '18), Potsdam, Germany, 04-06 Oct 2018, p. 19. ISBN 9781450365888 (doi: 10.1145/3265757.3265776)

Lally, V. and Donaldson, P. (2018) Computing science. In: Bryce, T.G.K., Humes, W.M., Gillies, D. and Kennedy, A. (eds.) Scottish Education [5th Edition]. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, pp. 408-414. ISBN 9781474437844

Hayward, L. et al. (2018) CAMAU Project: Research Report (April 2018). Project Report. University of Glasgow, Glasgow.

Cutts, Q. and Donaldson, P. (2018) Investigating attitudes towards learning computer science. In: Sentance, S., Barendsen, E. and Schulte, C. (eds.) Computer Science Education: Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in School. Bloomsbury Academic: London, pp. 39-55. ISBN 9781350057111

Cutts, Q. , Patitsas, E., Cole, E., Donaldson, P. , Alshaigy, B., Gutica, M., Hellas, A., Larraza-Mendiluze, E., McCartney, R. and Riedesel, C. (2018) Early Developmental Activities and Computing Proficiency. In: Proceedings of the 2017 ITiCSE Conference on Working Group Reports - ITiCSE-WGR '17, Bologna, Italy, 03-05 July 2017, pp. 140-157. ISBN 9781450356275 (doi: 10.1145/3174781.3174789)

2017

Donaldson, P. , Ntarmos, N. and Portelli, K. (2017) A Systematic Review of the Potential of Machine Learning and Data Science in Primary and Secondary Education. Discussion Paper. Royal Society. (Unpublished)

Cutts, Q. , Robertson, J., Donaldson, P. and O’Donnell, L. (2017) An evaluation of a professional learning network for computer science teachers. Computer Science Education, 27(1), pp. 30-53. (doi: 10.1080/08993408.2017.1315958)

2014

Cutts, Q. , Connor, R., Michaelson, G. and Donaldson, P. (2014) Code or (Not Code): Separating Formal and Natural Language in CS Education. In: 9th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education, Berlin, Germany, 5-7 Nov 2014, pp. 20-28. ISBN 9781450332507 (doi: 10.1145/2670757.2670780)

This list was generated on Sat Sep 23 12:17:13 2023 BST.
Number of items: 15.

Articles

Cutts, Q. , Barr, M. , Ada, M. B., Donaldson, P. , Draper, S. , Parkinson, J. , Singer, J. and Sundin, L. (2019) Best paper award: Experience report: thinkathon - countering an 'I got it working' mentality with pencil-and-paper exercises. ACM Inroads, 10(4), pp. 66-73. (doi: 10.1145/3368563)

Cutts, Q. , Robertson, J., Donaldson, P. and O’Donnell, L. (2017) An evaluation of a professional learning network for computer science teachers. Computer Science Education, 27(1), pp. 30-53. (doi: 10.1080/08993408.2017.1315958)

Book Sections

Lally, V. and Donaldson, P. (2018) Computing science. In: Bryce, T.G.K., Humes, W.M., Gillies, D. and Kennedy, A. (eds.) Scottish Education [5th Edition]. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, pp. 408-414. ISBN 9781474437844

Cutts, Q. and Donaldson, P. (2018) Investigating attitudes towards learning computer science. In: Sentance, S., Barendsen, E. and Schulte, C. (eds.) Computer Science Education: Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in School. Bloomsbury Academic: London, pp. 39-55. ISBN 9781350057111

Research Reports or Papers

Atkinson, T. et al. (2020) The National Framework for Digital Literacies in Initial Teacher Education. Other. Scottish Council of Deans of Education.

Hayward, L. et al. (2018) CAMAU Project: Research Report (April 2018). Project Report. University of Glasgow, Glasgow.

Donaldson, P. , Ntarmos, N. and Portelli, K. (2017) A Systematic Review of the Potential of Machine Learning and Data Science in Primary and Secondary Education. Discussion Paper. Royal Society. (Unpublished)

Conference or Workshop Item

Morrison-Love, D. , David, S. and Donaldson, P. (2019) Harnessing Research, Policy and Professional Expertise to Make Decisions for Learning Progression. BERA 2019, Manchester, UK, 10-12 Sep 2019.

Conference Proceedings

Fincher, S. et al. (2020) Notional Machines in Computing Education: The Education of Attention. In: ITiCSE-WGR '20: Proceedings of the Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, 17-18 Jun 2020, pp. 21-50. ISBN 9781450382939 (doi: 10.1145/3437800.3439202)

Szabo, C., Falkner, N., Petersen, A., Bort, H., Cunningham, K., Donaldson, P. , Hellas, A., Robinson, J. and Sheard, J. (2019) Review and Use of Learning Theories within Computer Science Education Research: Primer for Researchers and Practitioners. In: ITiCSE-WGR '19: Proceedings of the Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, Aberdeen, Scotland, 15-17 Jul 2019, pp. 89-109. ISBN 9781450375672 (doi: 10.1145/3344429.3372504)

Cutts, Q. , Barr, M. , Bikanga Ada, M. , Donaldson, P. , Draper, S. , Parkinson, J. , Singer, J. and Sundin, L. (2019) Experience Report: Thinkathon -- Countering an "I Got It Working" Mentality with Pencil-and-Paper Exercises. In: 24th Annual ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE 2019), Aberdeen, Scotland, 15-17 Jul 2019, pp. 203-209. ISBN 9781450368957 (doi: 10.1145/3304221.3319785)

Morrison-Love, D. , Donaldson, P. and Barnes, J. (2019) Design & Technology and Computer Science in the CAMAU Project: the Genesis of Learning Progression in the New Curriculum for Wales. In: Pupils Attitudes Towards Technology Conference 2019 (PATT 37): Developing a Knowledge Economy through Technology and Engineering Education, Msida, Malta, 03-06 Jun 2019,

Donaldson, P. and Cutts, Q. (2018) Flexible Low-cost Activities to Develop Novice Code Comprehension Skills in Schools. In: 13th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education (WiPSCE '18), Potsdam, Germany, 04-06 Oct 2018, p. 19. ISBN 9781450365888 (doi: 10.1145/3265757.3265776)

Cutts, Q. , Patitsas, E., Cole, E., Donaldson, P. , Alshaigy, B., Gutica, M., Hellas, A., Larraza-Mendiluze, E., McCartney, R. and Riedesel, C. (2018) Early Developmental Activities and Computing Proficiency. In: Proceedings of the 2017 ITiCSE Conference on Working Group Reports - ITiCSE-WGR '17, Bologna, Italy, 03-05 July 2017, pp. 140-157. ISBN 9781450356275 (doi: 10.1145/3174781.3174789)

Cutts, Q. , Connor, R., Michaelson, G. and Donaldson, P. (2014) Code or (Not Code): Separating Formal and Natural Language in CS Education. In: 9th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education, Berlin, Germany, 5-7 Nov 2014, pp. 20-28. ISBN 9781450332507 (doi: 10.1145/2670757.2670780)

This list was generated on Sat Sep 23 12:17:13 2023 BST.

Grants

 

2018-2020 DataLab Grant for the Citizen Data Science MOOC
2017-2020 Welsh Government and University of Wales Trinity St David, researcher on the CAMAU project in the area of Science and Technology and Mathematics and Numeracy
2017 Royal Society, review and report on the potential of data science and machine learning in primary and secondary schools
2013-2015 Scottish Government Grant for the Professional Learning And Networking for Computing programme (Grant held by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT)

Supervision

Previous Supervisees

Final Year BTech Ed Dissertations

 2017-18 Inclusion of Hearing-Impaired Students in Mainstream Design and Technology Classrooms
  Sustainability and Creativity: The Ins and Outs
  Analysis into the Use of Technology as an Educational Aid within the Classroom

Master of Education in Professional Practice Dissertations

2017-18 Can Growth Mindset Affect Pupil Participation in the Broad General Education Social Subjects Classroom?
  How can we Best Meet the ICT Requirements of Pupils in a Primary Setting? Evidence from a Case Study

 

Teaching

Peter teaches on a range of courses across the MEduc and PGDE programmes including

  • Education and Society 1 and 2 (MEduc)
  • Technologies within Education in Practice 3 and 4 (MEduc)
  • Understanding Learning and Teaching (PGDE)
  • Technologies within Learning and Teaching in the Primary (PGDE)

and is course convener for Education and Society 2 as well as leading the redevelopment of the Primary Technologies curricular inputs across MEduc and PGDE programmes.

Peter is the school placement tutor for the Falkirk partnership area and supervises final year BTech Ed students and Masters students on the Master of Education (Professional Practice) programmes.

he is an assessor for

  • Learning and Teaching in the Primary
  • Evaluation of Professional Practice
  • BTech Final Year Dissertations
  • Master of Education (Professional Practice)