#CSK8 Podcast - A podcast for computer science educators

In this interview with Mark Guzdial, we discuss the similarities and differences between constructionism and constructivism, think through when to situate and apply learning, discuss contextualized learning, creating multiple pathways for exploring computer science, problematizing subservient relationships with integrated curricula or courses, task-specific and domain-specific languages, using mul...

In this episode I discuss some example questions we can ask to encourage kids to think deeper about computer science and computational thinking by unpacking two papers on using guiding questions in mathematics education. The first paper paper by Way (2014) is titled “Using questioning to stimulate mathematical thinking” and the second paper by Pennant (2018) is titled “Developing a classroom cultu...

In this interview with Phil Bagge, we discuss the rise of CS in UK curricula, the evolution of Phil’s pedagogical approach, how time constraints impact pedagogical approaches, not letting the loudest voices drive instruction, how research informs Phil’s approach for working with teachers new to CS, how to emphasize student agency in teacher professional development, and much more. Click here for t...

In this episode I unpack Koshy, Martin, Hinton, Scott, Twarek, and Davis’ (2021) publication titled “The Computer Science Teacher Landscape: Results of a Nationwide Teacher Survey,” which provides recommendations for the field based on a summary of findings on teacher demographics, current challenges for CS educators, and the state of cultural relevance in CS education. Click here for this episode...

In this interview with Jason Bohrer, we discuss lessons learned coming into computer science education from another subject area, lessons learned working with CSTA chapters across the country (and during a pandemic), how CSTA has impacted the field and continues to evolve over time, how Jason continued to learn about CS without getting burned out, considering equity and inclusion when recruiting f...

In this episode I unpack Wang and Moghadam’s (2017) publication titled “Diversity barriers in K-12 computer science education: Structural and social,” which describes potential structural and social barriers for Black, Hispanic, and female students in K-12 contexts. Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 Intro 00:29 Abstract...

In this interview with Sofía De Jesús, we discuss Sofía’s book ( Applied Computational Thinking with Python: Design algorithmic solutions for complex and challenging real-world problems ), the importance of bringing your full self into the classroom, designing for equity and inclusion, working with individuals one-on-one rather than teaching to group averages, problematizing grades in education, c...

In this episode I unpack Israel, Lash, Bergeron, and Ray’s publication titled “Planning K-8 computer science through the UDL framework,” which discusses the potential for using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in CS classes. Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 Intro 00:19 Abstract 01:32 My single sentence summary 01:52...

Click here for this episode’s show notes . How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

In this episode I unpack Bailenson’s (2021) publication titled “Nonverbal overload: A theoretical argument for the causes of Zoom fatigue,” which describes four potential causes for Zoom fatigue. Click here for this episode’s show notes . How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 Intro 00:45 Abstract 01:51 My single sentence summary 02:49 Paper introduction 03:12 Eye g...

[This episode was a friendly April Fools prank about a fake paper I created] In this bonus episode I unpack Rollerstein’s (2021) publication titled “‘I can't read, but I can code’: Using puppets to teach C++ to pre-readers: A quasi-experimental critical phenomenological mixed methods case study” which investigated the use of puppets to teach C++ to pre-readers in pre-K CS classes. Click here for t...

In this interview with Siobahn Grady, we discuss the importance of self care and healthy boundaries, the impact of education, misconceptions and problematic assumptions people make with HBCUs, misconceptions and misunderstandings of being a professor in CS, lessons learned using machine learning to identify authorship of tweets, exploring the implications of social media and technology with studen...

In this episode I unpack Tsan, Boyer, and Lynch’s (2016) publication titled “How early does the CS gender gap emerge? A study of collaborative problem solving in 5th grade computer science,” which investigates the potential impact of gendered groups on the quality of completed Scratch projects in an in-school computer science class for 5th grade students. Click here for this episode’s show notes....

In this panel discussion with Catherine Bornhorst, Jon Stapleton, and Katie Henry, we discuss what rhizomatic learning is and looks like in formalized educational spaces, affordances and constraints of rhizomatic learning, how to support individual students within a group setting, standards and rhizomatic learning, why few people know and use rhizomatic learning approaches, how to advocate for and...

In this episode I unpack Mellström’s (2009) publication titled “The intersection of gender, race and cultural boundaries, or why is computer science in Malaysia dominated by women?,” which “points to a western bias of gender and technology studies, and argues for cross-cultural work and intersectional understandings including race, class, age and sexuality” (p. 885). Click here for this episode’s...

In this interview with Amy Ko, we discuss the importance of mentorship in education, learning what not to do with teaching, the positive results of being vulnerable, understanding and exploring the limitations and consequences of CS, problematizing grades in education, practicing teaching through mental simulations, the importance of engaging in the CS community, and much more. Click here for this...

In this episode I unpack Butler’s (1988) seminal publication titled “Performative acts and gender constitution: An essay in phenomenology and feminist theory,” which unpacks the notion that gender is a performative act that is socially and historically constructed. Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 Intro 00:35 My single...

In this interview with Roger Mantie, we discuss the importance of leisure for self preservation, problematize the single focus of education for workforce readiness, discuss the importance of focusing on happiness and wellbeing, explore discourse in education and around leisure, and much more. Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━━━━━━━━━━...

In this episode I unpack Medel and Pournaghshband’s (2017) publication titled “Eliminating gender bias in computer science education materials,” which examines three examples of “how stereotypes about women can manifest themselves through class materials” (p. 411) Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 Intro 00:40 Abstract 0...

In this interview with Vicky Sedgwick, we discuss Vicky’s journey into CS education, how Vicky’s pedagogy has changed in virtual environments, advice for designing learning experiences in CS, the importance of integrating CS in other subject areas, recommendations for improving equity and inclusion, building online communities in an age where people are questioning the value of social media, and m...

In this episode I unpack Denning’s (2017) publication titled “Remaining trouble spots with computational thinking: Addressing unresolved questions concerning computational thinking,” which answers three questions: what is computational thinking, how do we measure students’ computational abilities, and is computational thinking good for everyone? Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get...

In this interview with Joanna Goode, we discuss corporate influence through neoliberal practices in CS education, reflecting on engaging all students in CS programs, considerations around equity and inclusion in CS education, layers of curriculum design and implementation, discussing and problematizing integration, influences of policy and administrative support (or the lack of) on CS education, J...

In this episode I unpack Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch-Römer’s (1993) publication titled “The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance,” which debunks the notion of innate abilities within a domain and describes the role of deliberate practice in achieving expert performance. Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━...

In this interview with Melissa Rasberry, we discuss making educational lemonade out of lemons, using technology to collaborate in virtual learning communities, how people are learning differently through online communities, CS for All Teachers , suggestions for using different social media platforms to connect with other educators, and much more. Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Ge...

In this episode I unpack Trancred et al.’s (2020) publication titled “Understanding women modders using the serious leisure perspective,” which discusses a survey that investigated motivations for participating in modding practices among women. Click here for this episode’s show notes. How to Get Started with Computer Science Education ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 Intro00:44 Abstract 01:53 My single senten...