The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference from the UK ACM Special Interest Group in Computing Science Education Chapter is emerging as one of the leading venues nationally and internationally for researchers and practitioners to meet and share advances in computing science education.
We are a diverse and inclusive community bringing together researchers, academics, industry practitioners and teachers from across the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as from the rest of Europe and the wider world.
The conference takes place in-person on Thursday 1st of September 2022 and Friday 2nd of September 2022 in Dublin, Ireland.
Registration now open. Registration is now open. Please register via EventBrite.
Poster Deadline Extended. Posters abstracts are due Monday 11th July. Submissions to EasyChair.
Submissions open. Paper, workshop, poster, RIPPA and Doctoral Consortium submissions can now be made via EasyChair.
NEW for UKICER 2022! Doctoral Consortium. Applications are now open for the first Docotoral Consortium (DC) at UKICER. The DC is organised by Sally Fincher, Quintin Cutts, Rosanne English and Joseph Maguire. Applications must be submitted via EasyChair and applicants should consult guidance before submitting their application.
Important dates. Submission, review process and events dates are now published. Make sure to add them to your calendar.
Stay up-to-date. For all the latest UKICER announcements and to keep up-to-date with the conference, follow the conference Twitter account.
Call for Papers. Papers, posters and workshop proposals are sought for the 2022 United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference. The Call for Papers has also been publicised on WikiCFP and EasyChair Smart CFP.
Previous conference proceedings. The conference proceedings for the 2021 United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) Conference are available via the ACM Digital Library.
Sue Sentance is Director of the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, UK and Chief Learning Officer at the Raspberry Pi Foundation. She received her PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Edinburgh University in 1993, and since then has worked as a secondary teacher, teacher trainer, university lecturer and researcher, before joining the Raspberry Pi Foundation in 2018. At the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Sue’s role is to advise on teaching and learning, and lead on research on computing education for young people. She has played a leading role in the DfE-funded National Centre for Computing Education, particularly around the development of the Teach Computing Curriculum, Isaac Computer Science, and online teacher professional development courses. She also leads the Gender Balance in Computing research programme. In 2020 Sue was awarded a Suffrage Science award for Maths and Computing and in 2017 the BERA Public Engagement and Impact Award for her services to computing education.
The ultimate goal of any research relating to education is to make a difference, either directly or indirectly, to the learning experience. Educational research can generate reliable and valid answers to well-defined questions, providing evidence to inform changes to policy or practice. Educational research in the domain of computer science is no exception.
Computer science education research (CSER) is a unique field in many ways. Unlike mathematics and science education research it has made its home in university computer science departments (rather than in faculties of education), and for decades it primarily focused on university-level teaching and learning. Higher education teaching practice is necessarily localised and the impact of some CSER has been arguably very local too, driven by excitement rather than educators’ familiarity with pedagogy. In recent years we’ve seen the growth of CSER focusing on school education alongside the introduction of computing into many countries' curricula around the world; with the lack of an established knowledge base on the teaching and assessment of computing we have the opportunity and responsibility to make our research as impactful as possible.
In this UKICER keynote I will be examining the topic of the impact of research with specific reference to computer science education research, through both a discussion of knowledge mobilisation and also highlighting practical suggestions for researchers. I hope through this keynote to promote conversation around the ways in which we can all focus on impact in CSER and look forward to many stimulating discussions during the conference.
The conference program is available below and is available to download in PDF format.
Please note that this will be subject to change and we will update the version number
Click to download - ProgramDate | Day | Time | Session | Name | Room |
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01/09/2022 | Thur | 08:30 | Registration | Arrival and Registration | Main Lobby |
09:00 | DC | Doctoral Consortium Session chairs: Quintin Cutts, Rose English |
Synergy Centre 2nd floor (Venture room) |
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RIPPA | Designing and Assessing Authentic Software Development Projects in Undergraduate Computing Education Christopher Hundhausen, Phillip Conrad and Olusola Adesope |
Synergy Centre 2nd floor (Embryo room) |
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12:15 | Break | Coffee | Room 029 | ||
12:30 | Opening | Welcome and opening remarks Speakers: Keith Quille, Brett Becker and Joseph Maguire |
Room 029 | ||
12:45 | Keynote | Who's using my research? Influencing the impact of computing education research on practice. Keynote: Sue Sentance |
Room 029 | ||
13:30 | Break | Lunch | Canteen | ||
14:30 | Paper Session 1 | Weekly Fluctuations in Motivation in Introductory Programming Authors: Hannu Pesonen and Arto Hellas Framework for Speeding Up Automated Assessment Authors: Sami Sarsa, Juho Leinonen, Charles Koutcheme and Arto Hellas Session Chair: Sean Russel |
Room 029 | ||
15:30 | DC | Doctoral Consortium Short Presentations Session Chairs: Quintin Cutts, Rose English |
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15:45 | Posters and Coffee | Session Chair: Keith Nolan | Reception Area | ||
16:15 | Paper Session 2 | Computing in School in the UK & Ireland: A Comparative Study Authors: Sue Sentance, Diana Kirby, Keith Quille, Elizabeth Cole, Tom Crick and Nicola Looker Student Perspectives on the Experience of Peer Evaluation During Group Projects Authors: Alexander Mitchell, Michael Scott, Joseph Walton-Rivers, Matt Watkins, Warwick New and Douglas Brown Session Chair: Roisin Faherty |
Room 029 | ||
18:15 | Banquet | Bus leaves for Banquet from the campus at 18:15, the Banquet begins at 18:45 and the show begins at 20:00 in Taylors Three Rock. The show finishes at 21:45 and then a bus will drop you back to the campus. Please note the campus will be closed at this stage. | Front door at main reception |
Date | Day | Time | Session | Name | Room |
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02/09/2022 | Fri | 09:00 | Paper Session 3 | Participant-centred planning framework for effective gender balance activities in tech Authors: Ella Taylor-Smith, Camilla Barnett, Sally Smith, Matthew Barr and Carron Shankland What can we learn from recommendations of early-career engineers? Assessing computing and software engineering education using a career monitoring survey Authors: Timo Hynninen, Antti Knutas and Maija Hujala Towards Integrated Graduate Skills for UK Computing Science Students Authors: Rosanne English and Alan Hayes Session Chair: Keith Quille |
Room 029 |
10:30 | Posters and Coffee | Session Chair: Keith Nolan | Reception Area | ||
11:00 | Paper Session 4 | Developing an on-campus internship model for computing students - an alternative experiential learning pathway Authors: Seán McHugh, Keith Quille, Lorraine Carmody and Keith Nolan The Influence of Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety on Academic Performance in English-based CS1 Courses Authors: Suad Alaofi and Seán Russell Experience Report: Running and Participating in a Multi-Institutional Research in Practice Project Activity (RIPPA) Authors: Jack Parkinson, Sebastian Dziallas, Gary Lewandowski, Fiona McNeill, Jim Williams and Quintin Cutts Session Chair: Rajesh Jaiswal |
Room 029 | ||
12:30 | Break | Lunch | Canteen | ||
13:30 | Workshop | Women into Tech: activities designed to improve gender balance on computer science courses Ella Taylor-Smith, Carron Shankland, Sally Smith and Matthew Barr |
Synergy Centre 2nd floor (Venture room) |
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15:00 | UKICER 2023 | UKICER 2023 | Room 029 | ||
15:15 | Closing | Closing Remarks Speakers: Keith Quille, Brett Becker and Joseph Maguire |
Room 029 |
Team software development projects are a crucial component of undergraduate computing education. Studies of software developers in industry underscore the need for undergraduates to acquire authentic software development experiences in which they contribute to legacy code bases within collaborative software development contexts. Despite their clear educational value, team software development projects are notoriously challenging to implement and assess. Drawing on experience and relevant research results, this Research in Practice Project Activity (RIPPA) brings together computing educators and researchers to discuss, research, and innovate approaches to designing and assessing authentic software development projects. Participants are invited to run empirical studies in their own courses in which they (a) collect subjective and objective measures of team and individual progress in software projects, and (b) explore alternative pedagogical and assessment approaches, including those supported by the use of custom learning management and data analytics tools. By the end of the RIPPA, we aim to publish one or more research papers that advance the state-of-the-art in team software project pedagogy, supporting technology, and assessment based on the results of multi-institutional research studies.
Are you interested or involved in any gender balance activities or any initiatives targeting people from underrepresented groups? E.g. events to encourage women and girls to study computing or student networking events.
We've been working on gender balance projects and also investigating ways to improve their efficacy and we'd like to share this with you and provide an opportunity for you to share what you've been doing. Participants with no experience are also welcome. We'll introduce 3 of the projects we've been working on: Ada Scotland Festival, Women into Tech, and Gender Imbalance in Digital Technology. Then we'll share our Participant-Centred Planning Framework and look at tips for maximum impact and associated challenges together.
Finally we'll all share ideas for in-situ evaluation methods and ideally test them out.
Register now for UKICER 2022 here. Below are the registration dates:
Some suggested local hotels within walking distance to the conference venue are:
UKICER 2022 will take place in Dublin, Ireland, hosted by Technological University of Dublin Tallaght Campus (TU Dublin).
Accommodation options will be published here in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on this page.
The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference from the UK ACM Special Interest Group in Computing Science Education Chapter is seeking high quality contributions to research relevant to computing science education.
Contributions are sought in a variety of categories with emphasis on high-quality and rigorous work. Researchers have the opportunity to disseminate their work as a full paper, workshop or poster.
The following contributions are sought from the community:
Papers. Six-page research or tool design papers for presentation at the conference and publication in the proceedings.
Workshop proposals. Two-page workshop proposal for workshops to be delivered to attendees at the conference.
Posters. Single-page poster abstract for publication in conference proceedings and poster for presentation at the conference.
Research in Practice Project Activities (RIPPA). Two-page proposals for RIPPA activity at conference.
DC Applications. Two-page application to participate in the Doctoral Consortium (DC) at the conference, including single-page abstract for publication in the conference proceedings.
Submission for all the afordmentioned contributions should be made via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines prior to submitting contributions for consideration.
Any questions about submissions should be emailed to the General and Programme Chairs, Joseph Maguire (joseph.maguire@glasgow.ac.uk) and Brett Becker (brett.becker@ucd.ie).
We invite submissions of research papers on the topic of computing science education. Themes of interest include:
Papers should describe a rigorously executed piece of work, include a motivating research question and discussion of prior related work. We welcome:
All submitted papers should have a research component. Papers focused purely on practice-related topics such as implementation of new curricula or new course designs may be better suited to our sister Computing Education Practice conference.
Papers that authors would like to be considered for presentation at the conference and publication in proceedings must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for papers prior to submission.
We invite proposals for running 1-2 hour workshops. The workshops should be relevant to British and Irish educators (in a university or school setting) and/or computing science education researchers. Example workshops may be on the use of research techniques (e.g. qualitative methods), grant writing, pedagogical techniques (e.g. peer instruction), tools (e.g. programming environments, assessment tools), or any other topic which may be relevant to conference attendees.
Workshop organisers will be given an opportunity to advertise their workshop via a one-minute lightning talk earlier in the conference.
Workshop proposal that leaders would like to be considered for delivery at the conference must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for workshop proposals prior to submission.
We invite posters for presentation and discussion at the conference. The posters should be relevant to British and Irish educators (in a university or school setting) and/or computing science education researchers. Example posters could include initial ideas, experimental designs, pedagogical techniques or early proposals to address open challenges in computing science education research.
Poster abstracts that presenters would like to be considered for presentation at the conference must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for poster abstracts prior to submission.
Research in Practice Project Activities (RIPPAs) are a new form of collaborative, community-forming activity for Computing Science education research and practice at the United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference.
The aim is to bring practitioners and researchers together in computing science education to form networks, exchanges ideas, form collaborations and put research into practice, incorporate research into practice or improving practice.
RIPPAs span several months and participants are expected to commit to participating in a small number of workshops asÓ well as conducting some activity in their context, such as incorporating research into practice, collecting data and/or conducting research.
The specific participation and commitment requirements depends on the RIPPA, but broadly RIPPAS required participants to:
The focus of RIPPAs is the participants and the expectation is that rippers will achieve the following from participating in a RIPPA:
RIPPA proposals that presenters would like to be considered for delivery at the conference and beyond must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for RIPPA prior to submission.
The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference Doctoral Consortium (DC) provides an opportunity for doctoral students to engage with peers and work with researchers to reflect on the wider computing education research landscape and expand it through connection and collaboration.
The UKICER DC has the following aims:
To allow new researchers to attend the conference, understand the UK CSEd landscape, and be introduced to the UKICER community.
To help build a cohort group of PhD researchers who will then have a network of colleagues across the UK.
To influence the growth of the conference, and the UKICER community, through researchers who see UKICER as a “home” conference.
Successful candidates are required to participate in a workshop on the first day of the conference and an activity session on the second day of the conference. Candidates may also be expected to participate in supplementary activities both before and after the Doctoral Consortium.
The DC comprises a workshop on the first day of the conference and a lightning presentation on the second day of the conference. The workshop is led by Professor Quintin Cutts and Dr Rosanne English.
The DC is all in-person, there is no hybrid or blended option. Candidates must confirm they are able to attend the conference and activities in-person.
Applications are welcome from doctoral students at any stage of study and from any discipline as long as:
They are engaged in computing science education research (including, but not limited to: software engineering, cognitive psychology, programming languages and educational science).
They have not graduated prior to the DC.
They are registered with an institution in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Attendance and participation in the DC is published in the conference proceedings. The following information will be published:
Doctoral Consortium applications must be submitted via EasyChair. Candidates should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for the Doctoral Consortium prior to submission. Successful candidates are required to register for the conference, engage in the DC and attend in-person.
There are several important dates for the United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research conference.
Milestone | Date and Time |
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Call for Participation | |
Abstracts (250 words) |
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Full papers |
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Notification of paper acceptance |
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Final camera ready paper submission |
Friday, August 5, 2022, anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) |
Milestone | Date and Time |
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Call for Participation | Thursday, January 6, 2022. |
Workshop Proposal |
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Doctoral Consortium application |
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Poster abstract |
Monday, July 11th, 2022, anywhere on Earth (UTC-12). |
Notification of workshop acceptance |
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Notification of Doctoral Consortium participation |
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Final camera ready workshop proposal submission |
Friday, August 5, 2022, anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) |
Final camera ready Doctoral Consortium one-page abstract |
Friday, August 5, 2022, anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) |
Notification of poster acceptance |
Friday, July 22, 2022. |
Final camera ready poster submission |
Friday, August 5th, 2022, anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) |
Milestone | Date and Time |
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Review process commences |
Monday, May 30, 2022.
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Paper bidding commences |
Monday, May 30, 2022.
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Paper bidding completes |
Friday, June 3, 2022 |
Allocation |
Monday, June 6, 2022. |
Reviews due |
Friday, June 20, 2022. |
Discussion commences |
Friday, June 21, 2022. |
Discussion completes |
Friday, June 24, 2022. |
Decision and Review process completes |
Friday, July 1, 2022. |
Milestone | Date and Time |
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UKICER Conference | Thursday, September 1 - Friday September 2, 2022. |