Original submissions in all areas related to primary and secondary computing education are invited. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Learning: attitudes, beliefs, motivation, misconceptions, learning difficulties, student engagement with educational technology (e.g., visualization), conceptualization of computing
- Teaching: teaching approaches, teaching methods, teaching with educational technology
- Content: curricular aspects, learning standards, tools, didactical approaches, context relevant teaching, assessment
- Institutional aspects: establishing and enhancing computing education, professional development
Teaching Computing: The Question of Pedagogical Content Knowledge
In 1986, Shulman identified three different knowledge areas necessary for successful teaching: content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK).
In many countries, teacher education includes these three aspects, though PCK can go under different names. This is particularly the case in German speaking countries where computing PCK roughly corresponds to "Didactics of Informatics" (Didaktik der Informatik) — a topic that is the focus of courses that every coming computing teacher has to attend when majoring in computing education.
Currently, many countries are introducing computing as a subject for secondary education, and computing teacher training is discussed, often with a focus on PCK. At WiPSCE 2013, we want to focus on this discussion.
Relevant research questions might be:
- Which PCK is needed for successful teaching in computing
- Which conceptual framework for PCK can we identify that enables us to effectively communicate about, compare, and contrast computing education practices and computing education research across variation in specific content, institutional as well as national practices?
- Which research questions need to be addressed?
- Which obstacles need to be overcome?
Well-explained analyses, theories, and opinions are highly welcome for this special theme at WiPSCE 2013.