This Handbook describes the extent and shape of computing education research today. Over fifty leading researchers from academia and industry (including Google and Microsoft) have contributed chapters that together define and expand the evidence base. The foundational chapters set the field in context, articulate expertise from key disciplines, and form a practical guide for new researchers. They address what can be learned empirically, methodologically and theoretically from each area. The topic chapters explore issues that are of current interest, why they matter, and what is already known. They include discussion of motivational context, implications for practice, and open questions which might suggest future research. The authors provide an authoritative introduction to the field and is essential reading for policy makers, as well as both new and established researchers.

/pdf/the-cambridge-handbook-of-computing-education-research-4648mu3xgq.pdf

The Cambridge Handbook of Computing Education Research

Machine Learning-based (ML) technologies impact many facets of our lives. Given ML's ubiquity, and the ways it offers creative computational possibilities distinct from programming, we believe it could be a powerful tool for youth to leverage in making, creativity, and play. We investigate how youth with no programming experience can incorporate ML classifiers into athletic practice by building models of their own physical activity. In this paper, we describe a design experiment exploring how to introduce youth to making ML models within the context of their athletic interests. We present AlpacaML, an iOS application that connects to wearable sensors and allows young people to model physical movement using an ML classifier, and detail its use in a three-hour workshop with middle- and high-school athletes. We found the youth were able to collect data, build models, test and evaluate models, and quickly iterate on this process. We finish with a discussion of why this is a promising direction for the incorporation of Machine Learning into novice youth making, exploration, and play.

Youth Learning Machine Learning through Building Models of Athletic Moves

Novice Programmers and Introductory Programming

A review of computational toys and kits for young children

A Study Design Process

BlockyTalky: New programmable tools to enable students’ learning networks

Computer music research realizes a vision of performance by means of computational expression, linking body and space to sound and imagery through eclectic forms of sensing and interaction. This vision could dramatically influence computer science education, simultaneously modernizing the field and drawing in diverse new participants. In this article, we describe our work creating an interactive computer music toolkit for youth called BlockyTalky. This toolkit enables users to create networks of sensing devices and synthesizers, and to program the musical and interactive behaviors of these devices. We also describe our work with two middle-school teachers to codesign and deploy a curriculum for 11-to 13-year-old students. We draw on work with these students to evidence how computer music can support learning about computer science concepts and change students' perceptions of computing. We conclude by outlining some remaining questions around how computer music and computer science may best be linked to provide transformative educational experiences.

/pdf/tangible-distributed-computer-music-for-youth-5bh5z6wocp.pdf

Tangible distributed computer music for youth

Paper-based fabrication techniques offer powerful opportunities to prototype new technological interfaces. Typically, paper-based interfaces are either static mockups or require integration with sensors to provide real-time interactivity. The latter can be challenging and expensive, requiring knowledge of electronics, programming, and sensing. But what if computer vision could be combined with prototyping domain-aware programming tools to support the rapid construction of interactive, paper-based tangible interfaces? We designed a toolkit called ARcadia that allows for rapid, low-cost prototyping of TUIs that only requires access to a webcam, a web browser, and paper. ARcadia brings paper prototypes to life through the use of marker based augmented reality (AR). Users create mappings between real-world tangible objects and different UI elements. After a crafting and programming phase, all subsequent interactions take place with the tangible objects. We evaluated ARcadia in a workshop with 120 teenage girls and found that tangible AR technologies can empower novice technology designers to rapidly construct and iterate on their ideas.

ARcadia: A Rapid Prototyping Platform for Real-time Tangible Interfaces

NIME research realizes a vision of performance by means of computational expression, linking body and space to sound and imagery through eclectic forms of sensing and interaction. This vision could dramatically impact computer science education, simultaneously modernizing the field and drawing in diverse new participants. We describe our work creating a NIME-inspired computer music toolkit for kids called BlockyTalky; the toolkit enables users to create networks of sensing devices and synthesizers. We offer findings from our research on student learning through programming and performance. We conclude by suggesting a number of future directions for NIME researchers interested in education.

BlockyTalky: A Physical and Distributed Computer Music Toolkit for Kids

Museum directors are often faced with the challenge of engaging users in the museum experience while preserving the intentions of exhibit content. Designing exhibits for children can heighten the tension between these sometimes competing goals. Working with the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, we designed and implemented Metamorphosis, a system for an engaging, educational butterfly exhibit. The exhibit employs augmented reality and full-body interaction to guide users through critical phases of a butterfly's metamorphosis process. In Metamorphosis, we incorporated participatory design methods in order to leverage engaging ubiquitous technologies while supporting an educational narrative aligned with the museum's goals.

Annie Kelly

Papers

BlockyTalky: New programmable tools to enable students’ learning networks

Tangible distributed computer music for youth

ARcadia: A Rapid Prototyping Platform for Real-time Tangible Interfaces

BlockyTalky: A Physical and Distributed Computer Music Toolkit for Kids

Becoming butterflies: interactive embodiment of the butterfly lifecycle