Introduction: Differences-in-Differences (DD) is a commonly-used approach in policy evaluation for identifying the impact of an intervention or treatment. Under a parallel trend assumption (PTA), we can recover a causal effect by comparing the difference in outcomes between a treatment and a control group, both before and after an intervention was…

This research seeks to introduce concepts for programming, a key element of computing, to K-12 students. A central goal is to better understand the benefits of concept-integrated game mechanics in teaching basic programming concepts. The context of this research is also one of broadening participation. Thus the studies have been conducted in…

In fact, ever since Seymour Papert (famous in his later years for constructionism, a learning theory that married conceptual constructivism with concrete experience) created Logo programming, many schools have been coding using Logo, the educational computer programming software that has the famous 'turtle' on the computer screen. Importantly,…

Computing has become essential in modern-day problem-solving, making computational literacy necessary for practicing scientists and engineers. However, K-12 science education has not reflected this computational shift. Integrating computational thinking (CT) into core science courses is an avenue that can build computational literacies in all…

All teachers need ongoing coaching that helps them recognize areas of strength and need for teaching students with disabilities. Unfortunately, the amount, quality, and speed with which teachers receive feedback from coaches, administrators, mentors, or other instructional leaders on their academic and behavior management practices is limited. In…

Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) are educational systems that reflect knowledge using artificial intelligence implements. In this paper, we give an outline of the Programming-Tutor architectural design with the core implements on user interaction. This pilot proposal is for designing a model domain of a subset in the computer programming…

It is critical to teach all learners to program and think through programming. But to do so requires that early childhood teacher candidates learn to teach computer science. This in turn requires novel pedagogy that can both help such teachers learn the needed skills, but also provide a model for their future teaching. In this study, we examined…

Computational thinking in the educational environment has awaken a rising interest, having been included as part of the curricula from the very beginnings of education. Programmable robots have become a valuable positive resource in order to succeed in the development of computational thinking, demanding proper training from kindergarten teachers…

Over the past decade, the call to foster computational thinking (CT) in every child has received considerable attention. However, there is little understanding of whether children are developmentally ready to think computationally and what specific CT concepts and skills can be developed at various ages. This study explored the developmental and…

The challenge of learning programming in a MOOC is twofold: acquiring programming skills and learning online, independently. Automated testing and feedback systems, often offered in programming courses, may scaffold MOOC learners by providing immediate feedback and unlimited re-submissions of code assignments. However, research still lacks…

Aim/Purpose: To encourage students' engagement in peer assessments and provide students with better-quality feedback, this paper describes a technique for author-reviewer matching in peer assessment systems -- a Balanced Allocation algorithm. Background: Peer assessment concerns evaluating the work of colleagues and providing feedback on their…

Online learning systems should support students preparedness for professional practice by equipping them with the necessary skills while keeping them engaged and active. In that regard, the development of online learning systems that support students' development and engagement with programming is a challenging process. Early career computer…

The purpose of this paper is to recognize the special features of the flipped classroom and to explore the aspects of opportunities that the flipping concept can be applied to educational planning. The essential elements of the flipping concept are identified. A brief review of the key studies on flipped classrooms at both the college and high…

Programming skills (PS) are indispensable abilities in the information age, but the current research on PS cultivation mainly focuses on the teaching methods and lacks the analysis of program features to explore the differences in learners' PS and guide programming learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study aims to explore horizontal…

Designing a video game design and development curriculum in higher education is a challenging task. Information about the needs of the respective industry certainly helps. In this paper, we have surveyed Estonian video game development companies to determine their current needs when it comes to knowledge areas, software tools, languages,…