To make sense of our interconnected and algorithm driven world, students increasingly need proficiency with computational thinking (CT), systems thinking (ST), and computational modeling. One aspect of computational modeling that can support students with CT, ST, and modeling is testing and debugging. Testing and debugging enables students to…

Engineers have developed innovative hardware solutions to treat various medical conditions that provide medical patients with better health outcomes. These devices can be found in hospitals, medical clinics, homes, and even implanted in individuals. The patients experience freedom from extended hospital stays and can spend time with their family…

Cybersecurity job roles and responsibilities constantly evolve due to technological advancements, complex infrastructure, and increasing cybersecurity threats and regulations. As a result, organizations require a highly skilled and experienced cybersecurity workforce in both the public and private sectors. Many colleges and universities offer…

Electronic textiles (e-textiles) weave computational and electronic components into fabric, enabling students to design and build fabric-based projects that interact with their surroundings. This meshing of physical hardware and virtual software can be difficult for students to untangle when debugging. Is an LED failing to light up because of an…

While the cybersecurity landscape continually evolves, with new technologies, attack vectors, and defense mechanisms emerging regularly, cybersecurity certificate programs remain challenged to stay current and relevant, often resulting in the delivery of outdated course content in existing programs. Scholars note that the absence of standardized…

Research has shown that inequitable participation in computer science education is an occupational injustice for students with disabilities, as it is an unfair and inequitable distribution of occupational opportunities. There is limited information regarding how schools' capacity for and access to computer science education relates to the…

The rapid evolution of technology and its integration across virtually every field has made computer science (CS) education a crucial component of modern curricula. Despite the increasing demand for CS skills and being the top source of new wage creation in the U.S., CS education remains undervalued and underrepresented in high school systems.…

Universities are reflections of our societies and are tasked with educating the next generation of experts. The computer science (CS) phenomenon, with its high-paying jobs, attracts more students than ever to the CS undergraduate major. One may wonder why women are underrepresented in the CS major if they constitute half of university enrollment…

With the increase in cybercrime costing organizations financial loss and loss to their reputation, the need to hire qualified and experienced employees is paramount. As the gap in the workforce shortage widens, cybersecurity education and training institutions are struggling to produce a capable workforce with enough experience and skills that…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to explore how college students from the United States describe the motivational factors that influence them to seek a degree in computer science. There is a gap in the research that shows a need to look at the motivations of women from their first experiences in computer science to begin and…

As K-12 computer science education mandates rapidly evolve across America, government officials, technology industry executives, and school leaders recognize such efforts' intellectual and economic importance. Specifically in Tennessee, a unanimous vote from the Tennessee General Assembly resulted in the passage of Chapter 979 of the Public Acts…

Gamification is a term used to describe the art of taking a process or a task and making it into a game. Using games as a way to make mundane tasks or necessary lessons more fun is used in many aspects of life. Parents often use games to teach children tasks, and teachers use games to enforce learning, and much more. The gamification of Security…

Most existing autograders used for grading programming assignments are based on unit testing, which is tedious to implement for programs with graphical output and does not allow testing for other code aspects, such as programming style or structure. We present a novel autograding approach based on machine learning that can successfully check the…

This research project employs a case study design to examine how K-6 non-computer science (CS) trained teachers can be effectively prepared to teach CS, metaphorically unmasking hidden superheroes in the education system. Grounded in the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, the study also integrates Bandura's Theory of…

This case study focuses on the implementation and analysis of critical algorithmic literacy (CAL) lessons in two grade 3/4 combination classes. The study involves one elementary school teacher and 36 students from a K-6 school in Southern California. By analyzing various data sources, I identified trends that could be helpful for future…