I gave a talk at Cornell Tech at their To Code & Beyond: Rising to Equity Conference on Jan 10, 2020. Here are a few slides from that talk. The slides are at There was a modest increase in AP C…

Objective: This paper compares the pedagogical theory driving current norms towards instruction of novices in both fields, specifically focusing on The Carpentries and ACRL Framework instruction. I identify key areas of difference in theoretical and practical approaches towards education of learners entirely new to a topic, focusing on a choice to pursue constructivist or experiential learning versus providing direct instructional guidance. Methods: Two case studies are explored through the lens of the Dreyfus Model of learning for their theoretical underpinings for engaging novice learners: the ACRL Framework and Carpentries’ Instructor Training. Results: Applying the Dreyfus Model of learning and cognitive load theory shows theoretical benefits to direct instructional guidance over constructivist or minimally guided instruction. Conclusions: The ACRL Framework and Carpentries workshops share teaching goals of creating new mental models and core skills to support future learning, but differ in their pedagogical approaches. For novice learners of information literacy, there may be value in considering a more guided approach. Concrete lesson-planning strategies are proposed. The substance of this article is based upon a poster presented at RDAP Summit 2019.

Probably okay for the research-paper assignment

Programming is taught everywhere: at schools, independent code clubs, Code Clubs, CoderDojos, Girls Who Code sessions, after school programs, coding summer camps, workshops in libraries and museums…

Suitable for grad assignment.

A Digital Humanities origin story. Inspired by Speaking in Code, the 2013 DH developer summit on tacit knowledge.

This report examines current and trend data on course access, enrollment, and equity in computer science education across California. Key findings from this report include: *Just 39% of high schools in California offer computer science courses, and only 14% offer Advanced Placement Computer Science A. *Low-income schools are 4x less likely to offer AP CS A than high-income schools and ... Read More

Mined Minds came into West Virginia espousing a certain dogma, fostered in the world of start-ups and TED Talks. Students found an erratic operation.

Persisting in the face of failure. REALLY GREAT growth-mindset piece for 351 and 644.

Rather than enshrining mottos like “data is the new oil” into the vocabulary of tomorrow’s future technology leaders, perhaps we should emphasize “privacy first” and focus on how companies can absolutely minimize the data they collect to ensure a more privacy-protecting and less Orwellian future.

This blog post was inspired by our work at the Dagstuhl seminar “Notional Machines and Programming Language Semantics in Education”. We spent wonderful five days discussing the definiti…

Focuses on adults rather than k12.

About a decade ago, as the global economy shuddered, an 11-year-old boy sat at a desk with a laptop computer in the hallway of an experimental school in

Overall, average scores were up two points since 2014 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in Technology and Engineering Literacy.

Miranda Parker is investigating the qualities in high schools that lead to having a CS program in Georgia. One thing she’s learned, which can be said for a majority of research in IC, is that it comes down to the people.