This study critically reviews sixteen empirical studies that investigate the various difficulties that primary school students encounter while learning programming through educational games. Specifically, the challenges that students face in understanding basic programming concepts and the game elements that contribute to these difficulties, as…

Computational thinking (CT) involves breaking a problem into smaller components and solving it using algorithmic thinking and abstraction. CT is no longer exclusively for computer scientists but for everyone. While CT does not necessarily require programming, learning programming to enhance CT skills at a young age can help shape the next…

Advances in technology have caused high schools to update their computer science curricula; however there has been little analogous attention to technology-related education in middle schools. With respect to computer-related knowledge and skills, middle school students are at a critical phase in life, exploring individualized education options…

Research in the area of knowledge-based tutoring systems (KBTS) and intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) has great implications for computer applications in education and training. In a KBTS, course material is represented independently of teacher procedures, so that problems and remedial comments can be generated differently for each student. Such…

The dramatic changes that occurred in information technology in the 1990s have rendered the curricular offerings of many college and university information systems and computer science programs obselete. This paper identifies some of the most desirable skills in the current technology environment. By being astute innovators with college curricula,…

This paper discusses in detail the nature of the conceptual development in beginning computing education for teachers and makes a case for the inclusion of programming experiences. The controversial nature of this perspective is addressed directly including a historical perspective. The discussion includes an account of some specific notions of…