Research relating to the development of computational thinking (CT) at primary school level is still in its infancy despite indications that it is most effective when introduced in primary/early secondary education. Teachers are pivotal to ensuring children develop CT, so it is essential they are effectively prepared, starting at preservice level,…

Much attention in constructionism has focused on designing tools and activities that support learners in designing fully finished and functional applications and artefacts to be shared with others. But helping students learn to debug their applications often takes on a surprisingly more instructionist stance by giving them checklists, teaching…

The Klein bottle and hairy ball theorem are important concepts in advanced mathematics and they are both examples of the Poincaré-Hopf theorem. Complex theories such as these usually remain unrealized in the minds of mathematicians. In this collaborative work between a mathematician and a designer, we introduce the concept of the hairy Klein…

The concept of open functions was introduced to capture an intended feature of van Eyck's seminal play sculptures -- they do not suggest a specific action. In a recent study, Van der Schaaf, A. L., S. R. Caljouw, and R. Withagen. (2020. "Are Children Attracted to Play Elements with an Open Function?" "Ecological Psychology" 32:…

To inform instruction, screening and diagnostic assessments must collect accurate data about the current state of the learner. Unfortunately, students may find assessments unengaging, intimidating, or irrelevant, undermining the quality of their effort and the quality of the data. The application of gaming to assessments may provide a way to boost…

A physics professor (DS) and a theater technical instructor (BC) came together in 2018 to plan a general education course on the Physics of Theater Stagecraft. This is less surprising than it sounds, because theatrical lighting design had been Smith's hobby for almost 30 years, and he has always felt that his understanding of physics helped him…

Recent reforms in science education have supported the inclusion of engineering and their practices in K-12 curricula. To this end, many classrooms have incorporated engineering units that include design challenges. Design is an integral part of engineering and can help students think in creative and interdisciplinary ways. In this study, we…

This Research Report describes the trialling of the Curriculum Design Coherence (CDC) Model in the Knowledge-Rich School Project in New Zealand. The Project's findings suggest that a CDC Model curriculum development design programme may be of use more widely. The CDC Model achieves conceptual coherence and progression, firstly by using…

The purpose of this study was to explore the service experiences of advisory council members engaged in the design, development and implementation of a noncredit executive education program at a large, public university in the mid-Atlantic region of the US that prepares managers for emerging C-suite roles. Thematic analysis of the verbatim…

Learning environment designs at the boundary of school and work can be characterised as integrative because they integrate features from the contexts of school and work. Many different manifestations of such integrative learning environments are found in current vocational education, both in senior secondary education and higher professional…

Digital learning environments are dynamic systems that require learning designers to leverage environmental conditions and the needs of their learners. While many frameworks and studies have explored pedagogical reasoning, little emphasis has been placed on the dynamic decision-making processes of learning designers. To advance the exploration of…

International large-scale assessments such as PISA or PIAAC have started to provide public or scientific use files for log data; that is, events, event-related attributes and timestamps of test-takers' interactions with the assessment system. Log data and the process indicators derived from it can be used for many purposes. However, the intended…

In this survey paper we aim to provide an overview of research on mathematics textbooks and, more broadly, curriculum resources as instruments for change related to mathematical content, instructional goals and practices, and student learning of mathematics. In particular, we elaborate on the following themes: (1) The role of curriculum resources…

Today, the engineering landscape is continually changing, and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have a responsibility to design curricula that address the growing demands of various industry sectors. Likewise, the roles and responsibilities of an engineer are evolving; requiring a further broadening of the current engineering curriculum. As a…

Learning analytics (LA) collects, analyses, and reports big data about learners to optimise learning. LA ethics is an interdisciplinary field of study that addresses moral, legal, and social issues; therefore, institutions are responsible for implementing frameworks that integrate these topics. Many of the ethical issues raised apply equally to…