Search

This paper reports on the parental perspective on one school’s implementation of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program to ensure students had access to a personalized computer. Often studies of one computer to one student (1:1) Programs focus on students and or teachers while parent compliance in the Program is assumed. Consequently, there is limited literature that explores parental perceptions and concerns, and subsequent decision-making process, in the implementation of a BYOD Program. The aim of this study was to document the parental voice in the implementation of one such BYOD program. This case study focused on one large co-educational school with 130 parents completing a questionnaire that provided both quantitative and qualitative responses. This enabled an exploration of the effect of the BYOD Program as reported by parents themselves, as well as the examination of a range of related issues, such as textbook use, the financial burden and choice of device. The findings provided insight, through the lens of the parents, into how the BYOD Program was deployed. Three trends emerged from the study: parents clearly expected some kind of trade-off in terms of expenditure, they clearly wanted reassurances that their investment was worthwhile and that the devices would be used for improving learning. Further research needs to be undertaken about parental perspectives, expectations, and concerns of BYOD Programs.

Humanoid robots are being used in some schools, however, research on the use of these robots is relatively new. In this three-year study, humanoid robots were deployed in 10 schools, involving 29 teachers across early childhood to Year 10. This study aimed to ascertain teachers’ perceptions of the benefits and challenges, the pedagogical practices that helped with student engagement, and where the robots fitted in the curriculum. Through multiple case studies, teachers’ views were explored and results from the study supports the deployment of humanoid robots. The study advocates a constructivist inquiry approach to using humanoid robots across the curriculum.

Conversational agents, commonly defined as chatbots, can be found in many places including live customer service chats, where customers communicate with a chatbot to resolve routine service issues. Children are also increasingly interacting with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered conversational devices such as Alexa and Siri. There has been phenomenal growth of chatbots in day-to-day activities. To prepare children for future careers, there have been calls to enhance the K-12 curriculum by teaching children how to program in the context of AI. The biggest advantage of bringing chatbot application development to the classroom is that it provides an authentic, real-world context and allows students to experiment with instructions as if they were talking to their friends. Artificial intelligence and chatbots are not new concepts; however, their popularity has gained traction in recent years. Using Python code snippets, this chapter looks at how chatbots can be used to teach students the foundations of programming concepts as mandated in the high school curriculum.

A study of female students enrolled in IT degrees in Australia traces how programs influenced decision making.

Immersive Virtual Reality Technology (IVR) is a visual multi-sensory computer-simulated environment that perceptually surrounds an individual, creating the illusion that one has “stepped inside” and is included in, and interacting with the generated world. Although IVR has been suggested as a tool to enhance learning, existing work has not examined how IVR presentations, compared with other types of storytelling, facilitate or interfere with children’s memory formation. Here, we present data from a study of seventy 6- and 7-year-old children randomly assigned to experience a story in one of three modalities: IVR, video, or a paper-based book. We assessed the children’s story recall and their ability to identify the protagonist’s emotions. Results showed that, overall, children in the IVR condition performed better in the memory-recall task than the children in the video and book conditions. The most pronounced difference in memory performance was between the IVR and book conditions. In the IVR versus video conditions, 6-year-olds performed significantly better in the IVR condition than in the video condition, while 7-year-olds performed similarly in both digital-story conditions. We found no effects of condition on children’s attribution of emotions to the story’s protagonist. We conclude that IVR may enhance children’s ability to learn story content in certain situations.

This paper reports on the implementation of a humanoid robot in five school settings and evaluates the success of the implementation based on the leadership of the school principal. As part of a wider three-year multiple case study research study that investigated the use of humanoid robots in different school settings, a robot was placed in the five selected schools for a fixed period of time to see how the technology was used and how the principal’s leadership impacted on the implementation in the classroom. Multiple case study design approach allowed for exploration of the use of humanoid robots in each setting as well as a comparison between the settings. Teachers planned lessons incorporating the unfamiliar technology and used the humanoid robot as a tool to make their classes more engaging, relevant, and authentic for their students. The findings of this study highlight that principals who were invested in the implementation of the humanoid robot in the classroom, fostered a positive learning community, and were directly supporting and encouraging of their teachers; led their team to a successful implementation of the new technology in their school.

University students’ expectations of digital technologies in their studies are greatly influenced by their previous exposure both within the secondary school classroom and in their private lives. These expectations often play a powerful role in their approaches and learning strategies in their first-year university classes. In this work, we investigated students’ expectations and utilisation of digital technologies in their transition from high school to tertiary studies. A survey encompassing the Expectancy-Disconfirmation Paradigm was conducted amongst second year students across the university. The results showed students expected to use advanced IT technologies and equipment at university. The high expectations were similar regardless of demographic parameters, such as gender, school type or field of studies. The findings also indicated that most students perceived little disconnection between the technology they used in high school and that of university. The majority of students seemed satisfied and even positively surprised by the use of technology in their university courses.

Part 1: Computing Education; International audience; Digital Technologies as a compulsory subject was introduced in the Australian Curriculum to enable students to build up their confidence in becoming creative developers of digital solutions and to develop thinking skills in problem solving. This theoretical paper examines a conceptual framework with the potential to form a working model for teachers teaching Computer Science/Digital Technologies in K-12 classrooms. Using Technacy Theory as a framework promises ideas for differentiating technology education by means of setting appropriate developmental expectations. This paper explores how the teaching of computational thinking and programming, key concepts found in the teaching of Computer Science subjects, can be mapped to the Technacy and Innovation Chart setting developmentally appropriate expectations in the teaching and learning of these subjects.

This research is part of a larger three-year study investigating the impact of humanoid robots on students’ learning and engagement. In this case study, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students worke...

This paper reports on how the Digital Education Revolution (DER) funding enabled one school to transition from having shared computers amongst students to personalised one computer to one student ratio. The aim of this study was to explore how the unexpected funding impacted on the school and was the catalyst for change that affected many stakeholders including students, teachers and parents. Whilst this case study focused on one school, this school was typical of many other Australian secondary schools that did not have an already established 1:1 program prior to the funding. Teachers in the school were interviewed and their perspectives of the implementation of the 1:1 program were documented. The paper explored the school’s computer situation prior, during and post funding to illustrate how funding had significant changes in practice both in many classrooms in the teaching and learning program, and professional staff learning.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has been used to a lesser or greater extent to facilitate learning and has become an instrumental part of ensuring continuity of education. Students had no choice but to engage in online learning during periods of lockdowns. The quick transition to online learning had the potential to significantly affect the student learning experience and, as a result, their attitudes to studying at university. In this study, we examined self-reported students’ attitudes on their transition from face-to-face to online learning. Second-year students from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, were invited to complete the questionnaire. Students reported a range of attitudes and experiences from very positive and enjoying discovering the new study mode to the very negative where motivation to study was lost and they were considering deferring or quitting their studies. Approximately half of the students discovered the benefits of both online and in-person education and expressed a preference for learning in a blended learning environment. The study results demonstrate the importance of digital technologies that provide flexible and agile educational opportunities with many students being open to new learning experiences despite missing the traditional approaches to education. The results of this study could inform further educational interventions when there is a need to move to online learning with little notice.

In recent years, immersive virtual reality technology (IVR) has seen a substantial improvement in its quality, affordability, and ability to simulate the real world. Virtual reality in psychology can be used for three basic purposes: immersion, simulation, and a combination of both. While the psychological implementations of IVR have been predominately used with adults, this review seeks to update our knowledge about the uses and effectiveness of IVR with children. Specifically, its use as a tool for pain distraction, neuropsychological assessment, and skills training. Results showed that IVR is a useful tool when it is used either for immersive or simulative purposes (e.g., pain distraction, neuropsychological assessment), but when its use requires both simulation (of the real world) and immersion (e.g., a vivid environment), it is trickier to implement effectively.

Virtual reality technology has existed since the late 1950s; however, its use in the educational sector has been limited because of the cost of the equipment, inaccessibility of the technology, issues of usability, and lack of appropriate educational content and educator training. New technological advances have resolved some of these limitations. Additionally, affordable virtual reality equipment that has been predominately used with adults shows compelling results, highlighting the potential of this technology when used with children for educational purposes. This paper presents an overview of immersive virtual reality’s potential as a learning tool with children, highlighting its current uses, research with children for educational purposes, and the existing barriers for the applicability and implementation of immersive virtual reality in school settings.

Implementing successful one-to-one computer programs where all students have access to mobile devices throughout the school day requires major stakeholders such as students, teachers and parents to support the initiative. However, parents are often the silent stakeholder when 1:1 programs are initiated and there is limited literature that explores their expectations, perceptions and concerns. In this longitudinal study, based at one school, 121 parents were surveyed across four years using a mixed methodology. The data collected consisted of qualitative interview data and questionnaires to provide quantitative responses. This enabled an exploration of the effect of the 1:1 program as reported by parents themselves as well as the examination of a range of related issues, such as the use of the devices and issues about the implementation of the program. The findings provided insight, through the lens of the parents, into how the 1:1 program was deployed. Three trends emerged from the study: a lack of understanding by parents of how their child would learn with the device, their belief that the mobile devices did not assist the child to be motivated, and that the devices were a distraction both at school and at home. The paper concludes with recommendations for the successful implementation of a 1:1 program to alleviate parental concerns and ensure that they are an equal stakeholder in these program. Further research needs to be undertaken about parental perspectives, expectations and concerns of 1:1 programs.

This study investigated the potential of Virtual Reality (VR), using 360-degree (360°) videos, as a tool to teach children about water-safety skills. Children (n = 182) aged 10 to 12 years were randomly assigned to learn about water safety using one of three instructional mediums: 360° VR videos, traditional video, or poster. The training was designed to address specific themes that contributed to drowning in coastal environments, allowing children to learn about dangers of rip currents in a relatively safe environment. Overall, 95% showed improved knowledge of water safety after participating in the water-safety workshop and retained their knowledge during the subsequent tests both one and eight weeks later. No difference was found in the learning outcomes obtained across the three mediums; however, participants in the 360° VR medium reported higher levels of interest and enjoyment than participants using the other two mediums (91% of students in the 360° VR video group found the activity engaging versus 61% for traditional video and 51% for the poster). Teacher feedback also indicated that 360° VR videos are a useful, engaging, and effective method of learning. Overall, we found support for the hypothesis that 360° VR videos are a useful tool to teach targeted skills, and that using 360° VR videos is more motivating and engaging than using traditional learning methods. We also found evidence to support the hypothesis that 360° VR videos are an effective tool for self-directed learning.

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) technology has demonstrated positive educational outcomes related to its use and is gaining traction in educational and training settings; IVR is expected to have widespread adoption within the classroom in the upcoming years. However, the educational potential of IVR with children has not been thoroughly investigated, especially as a tool for problem-solving skills. Therefore, this study was designed to answer the following questions: (1) Is IVR a useful tool to learn and practice problem-solving skills? More specifically, do children using IVR solve a game better than those using a tablet application or a board game? (2) Does IVR provide a more engaging experience for children to practice problem-solving skills than on a tablet or a board game? (3) Do problem-solving skills learned with IVR technology transfer to real-life (physical game)? Children (n = 120) aged 7–9.9 years were randomly assigned to a problem-solving game in one of three conditions: board game, tablet, or IVR. The results showed that, overall, the percentage of children who completed the problem-solving game was higher in the IVR condition (77.5%), compared with those in the tablet (32.5%) or board game (30%) conditions. We also found that the interest and enjoyment scores of participants using IVR were significantly higher than participants in the other two conditions, and that the children in the IVR condition were able to learn how to solve the problem and transfer their learning to the physical game. IVR is a technology capable of engaging interest and motivating the user, as well as having the potential to assist in cognitive processing and knowledge transfer.

This longitudinal study explores one secondary school's approach towards implementing a one computer to one student (1:1) program, which commenced in 2011. Prior to 2011, the school was not very technologically advanced, mainly due to financial constraints which impacted on infrastructure, procurement of hardware and software, the availability of computers to students and learning and teaching. This study considers the perceptions of student and teachers about the integration of the 1:1 program across the School. A mixed methodology was employed comprising qualitative interview data and questionnaires to provide quantitative responses. This enabled an exploration of the effect of the 1:1 program as reported by teachers and the students themselves, as well as the examination of a range of related issues, such as the use of the devices, as well as issues about the implementation of the program. The findings are presented in a thematic style and provide insight into how the 1:1 program was deployed each year through the lens of students and teachers. The paper concludes with recommendations for the successful implementation of a 1:1 program.

This paper reports on the outcomes from a pilot study targeted at mothers of school children in Melbourne, Australia. The aim of the study was to engender a positive view of technology in the participants and to introduce the concept of Information Technology (IT) as a potential career. Mothers were given the opportunity to develop basic IT skills and learn about different IT career pathways for their children with an emphasis on their daughters’ choices. Mothers were offered an evening course over a four week period that was designed to introduce them to a range of social media and Web 2.0 tools. Their opinions were documented using both questionnaires and informal discussions. It explored whether their attitudes towards IT can be changed by up-skilling and introducing them to the technologies their children commonly use. The findings of the pilot study suggest that addressing this demographic has the potential to make the participants question their pre-conceptions about IT careers for women.

Through the use of humanoid robots, a rural school in South Australia has included both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in embedding the “sleeping” language of the traditional owners of the land (the Narungga people) into the classroom. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students worked with virtual and real humanoid robots to develop in parallel both their programming skills and their understanding of the Narungga language and culture. This research is part of a larger three-year study investigating the impact of humanoid robots on students’ learning and engagement and draws on questionnaires, interviews and journals from the educators. The study demonstrated how pride and interest in Aboriginal culture can be partially reclaimed using these inclusive and adaptive technologies. Simultaneously, students and educators were learning two languages; the coding language required to program the robot and the Narungga language.

Educators, government bodies and employers have acknowledged the need for modern learners to acquire 21st century skills using information and communication technologies, to personalise student learning. Students need broader skills than the 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) to operate in the 21st century. These broader skills known as the 4Cs include: creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. The use of information and communication technologies is crucial in developing the 4Cs in conjunction with understanding how learning takes place. However, simply using technology does not guarantee that deep learning will occur. The use of technology needs to align and adapt with our knowledge of learning to be able to operate in a transformative space. This paper is designed to link the understandings of deep learning, 21st century skills and appropriate use of information and communication technologies to provide direction to educators who wish to lead in a technological environment of change.

The limitations of the classic work of Lanchester on non-spatial ordinary differential equations for modelling combat are well known. We present work seeking to more realistically represent troop dynamics and to enable a deeper understanding of the nature of conflict. We extend Lanchesters ODEs, constructing a new physically meaningful system of partial differential equations. Spatial force movement and troop interaction components are represented with both local and non-local terms, expanding upon the swarming behaviour of fish and birds proposed by Mogilner et al. We are able to reproduce crucial behaviour such as the emergence of cohesive density profiles and troop regrouping after suffering losses in both one and two dimensions.

We reproduce apparently complex cellular automaton behaviour with partial differential equations as developed in the author’s previous work. Our partial differential equation (PDE) model easily explains behaviour observed in selected scenarios of the cellular automaton wargame ISAAC without resorting to anthropomorphization of autonomous ‘agents’. The insinuation that agents have a reasoning and planning ability is replaced with a deterministic numerical approximation which encapsulates basic motivational factors and demonstrates a variety of spatial behaviours approximating the mean behaviour of the ISAAC scenarios. All scenarios presented here highlight the dangers associated with attributing intelligent reasoning to behaviour shown, when this can be explained quite simply through the effects of the terms in our equations. A continuum of forces is able to behave in a manner similar to a collection of individual autonomous agents, and shows decentralized self-organization and adaptation of tactics to suit a variety of combat situations.

In the early 1990s, many private (and some State) schools in Victoria, Australia, developed a laptop program. As a consequence, the main focus of computer use in schools became, "Do you have a laptop program?" For some time the question of computer use in the curriculum became a question of whether every student had access to a computer. Many schools, however chose not have a laptop program. How were these schools going to incorporate computers across the curriculum ? This paper explores the experiences of Parade College which has attempted to develop and promote the integration of computers in the curriculum in the last 12 years. This has led to many failures and some success. Reflection on these experiences has resulted in an integrated approach to the provision of information communications technology in the curriculum.

Part 2: Learners’ and Teachers’ Perspectives; International audience; Irrespective of what approach is taken to the development of computational thinking, or at what age it is introduced, the teacher is central to ensuring that the children they work with develop computational thinking. It is therefore essential that their teachers are adequately prepared to include computational thinking as part of their pedagogical classroom practices. Moreover, it is argued that this preparation should begin at pre-service level. Adopting a constructionist perspective of learning, this paper presents and discusses the findings from research that investigated preservice teachers’ understandings of computational thinking, having completed a specialism in digital learning, the final activity of which entailed using computational tools with children in the classroom as part of a primary school science curriculum. Findings indicate that working with the children in the classroom helped the preservice teacher develop their own understandings of what computational thinking (CT) looks like “in action”, enabling them to reflect more deeply on the fundamentals of CT and on how to use CT in their own classroom practice as qualified teachers.

Part 2: Learners’ and Teachers’ Perspectives; International audience; This study investigated the impact of technology problems on students’ perceptions of computerised examination technology and procedures. Measures included the suitability of the assessment task to computerisation, ease of use of the e-examination (e-exam) software, technical reliability, and the perceived security of the approach. A case study was conducted around the introduction of computerised tests into a second-year undergraduate biochemistry course. A series of three e-exam trial events were conducted at an Australian university in 2019 using laboratory bench computers. All students in the course were required to undertake the series of computerised examinations. Data were gathered using pre-post surveys of students’ perceptions (n = 215) that included qualitative comments and Likert items. This study focuses on the impact of a server slowdown at one of the sessions upon participants’ responses to Likert survey items that included their recommendation of the e-exam approach to peers.

Part 3: Teacher Professional Development; International audience; This study is a descriptive analysis of information and communications technology (ICT) enabled community of practice (CoP) groups of teachers in the rural state of Assam, and in Kolkata city in the state of West Bengal, India. Fifty-four teachers completed a 4-month certificate course in ICT and education offered in blended mode by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. After a 30-h face-to-face workshop, there were 60 h in distance mode where the teachers worked on assignments, reflected through online platforms, and actively participated in an online CoP group using WhatsApp. A WhatsApp chat analysis tool analysed conversations in these two groups. This paper gives descriptive information about the WhatsApp data using attributes of the messages.

Part 1: Computing Education; International audience; Due to recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on many areas of life, this paper provides an overview of that field, focussing on current approaches, especially in schools. After a clarification of the particular terminology in a wider context, and after a short journey into the history of AI in schools, current initiatives and AI-related approaches on a school level are described. The disciplinary aspect of AI is highlighted. This paper concludes with some implications for the practice of AI education.