Computing Education

Computing education (or Computer Science Education, CSE) is about the question how best to teach computer science.  For instance, we study the difficulties and challenges that novice programmers face and how we may best support and assist them during their learning process.  Our vision is to enable everyone to get an understanding of how algorithms and computers work, what opportunities they provide and what limitations they have.  Having such an understanding is a crucial prerequisite for the public discourse on topics about digital technology, AI and the application of algorithms in general.

One of our core projects is the outreach programme «Lehr-Lern-Labor», which translates to «teach-and-study-lab» with reference to it being both a framework for teacher-trainees to gain experience as well as for pupils of grades 7–12 to learn about computer science.  It is heavily based on the CS Unplugged approach, i.e. we look at algorithms and comutational thinking without the machine.  Nonetheless, we also include robotics and programming offerings for a wide range of possible programmes.  Our standing workshop offerings for short visits are complemented by week-long Science Camps.

In research we primarily focus on programming education.  In particular, we seek out new ways to visualise the flow of programming, explain errors or make the machine more observable and tangible.  Furthermore, we are also interested in the interplay between mathematics and computer science or the ramifications of artificial intelligence on education.

Both in teaching and research we are closely collaborating with our partners: ETH Zurich, TU Wien (particularly, eduLAB), the Max-Planck-Insitute and the University of Trier.