Collaborative dialogue offers rich insights into students' learning and critical thinking. This is essential for adapting pedagogical agents to students' learning and problem-solving skills in STEM+C settings. While large language models (LLMs) facilitate dynamic pedagogical interactions, potential hallucinations can undermine confidence, trust,…

Debugging (or troubleshooting) provides a rich context to foster problem-solving. Yet, while we know much about some problems and strategies that novices face in programming on-screen, we know far less about debugging and troubleshooting in the context of physical computing, where coding issues may overlap with materially embedded problems. In…

This study examined characteristics of 458 Grade 10 students who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science while completing their secondary school studies. Cluster analysis of SAT-M and Raven Progressive Matrices Test scores identified four distinct groups: G-EM: generally gifted, excelling in mathematics; AG-AEM: averagely gifted,…

In this paper, we finish describing the project and the experimentation of "Ricerca Operativa Applicazioni Reali" (ROAR; in English, Real Applications of Operations Research), a three-year project for higher secondary schools. ROAR is composed of three teaching units addressed to grades 10, 11, and 12, respectively. To improve students'…

This research aimed to develop and evaluate a gamified learning game using the Kid-Bright board to teach introductory coding skills for controlling lamps and fans to 12th-grade students. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, involving the design and development of the game based on gamification principles, followed by an evaluation by three…

STEM education aims to develop 21st-century skills, support economic growth and promote gender equality in STEM fields. It is known that gender stereotypes play a significant role in the formation of STEM identity. The most important factor preventing some high school-level female students from pursuing STEM careers is their lack of participation…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) permeates every aspect of our daily lives and is no longer a subject reserved for a select few in higher education but is essential knowledge that our youth need for the future. Much is unknown about the level of AI knowledge that is age and developmentally appropriate for high school, let alone about how to teach AI…

Gender disparities persist in postsecondary computing fields, despite improvements in postsecondary equity overall and STEM fields as an aggregate. The entrenchment of this issue requires a comprehensive, longitudinal lens. Building on expectancy-value theory, the present study examines the relationships among students' gender-ability stereotypes,…

The increasing demand for computer science (CS) skills underscores the importance of integrating CS education into K-12 curricula to best prepare students for a digitally-driven society. Despite significant progress in expanding access to CS courses, disparities in participation persist, especially among historically underrepresented groups. This…

Artificial intelligence is the unification of philosophy, cognitive science, mathematics, neurophysiology, psychology, computer science, information theory, cybernetics, and uncertainty theory. Therefore, it is feasible and necessary to utilize STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Liberal Arts, and Mathematics) education to learn artificial…

The increasing complexity of cybersecurity challenges necessitates a holistic educational approach that integrates both technical skills and humanistic perspectives. This article examines the importance of infusing humanities disciplines such as history, ethics, political science, sociology, law, and anthropology, into cybersecurity education.…

In this paper, we continue describing the project and the experimentation of "Ricerca Operativa Applicazioni Reali" (ROAR; in English, Real Applications of Operations Research), a three-year project for higher secondary schools, introduced. ROAR is composed of three teaching units, addressed to Grades 10, 11, and 12, respectively, having…

In this report, the authors provide a preliminary look at the Improving Pre-Engineering and Computer Science Education Through Micro-Credentialing project to develop and implement micro-credentials as a means of providing scalable, competency-based certification of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching skills in…

Computational thinking encompasses proficiencies in computer science and general problem-solving and can support students' learning across subject areas and success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and career pathways. To support students' STEM outcomes, many school districts are offering computer science…

To address disparity issues in STEM fields, this study implemented a culturally relevant, hands-on learning program tailored for African American high school students from low-income areas in America's Deep South. The program included a one-month summer academy followed by a four-month collaborative app design project using MIT App Inventor. A…