T-106.5550/6500 Methods and results in Computing Education Research (8 cr)

General information

This course has two course codes:

• T-106.5550 Research methods
  
• T-106.6500 Special course in Computing Education Research

Course goal

The course offers an overview of research in teaching and learning of computing.
After taking the course, a participant should

• Have gained insights about quantitative and qualitative research approaches and their application.
• Be familiar with some relevant research approaches.
• Be able to select and apply an approach suited to a particular research question.
• Be familiar with some methods for data collection and be able to judge the strengths and weaknesses in particular situations. Be able to select and apply suitable data collection methods, based on the research question and research approach.
• Be able to design a study, to motivate the selection of a research approach and data collection methods, and to perform the study.

Content

Different qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The relationship between research approaches and the outcome of a study. Trustworthiness, particularly concerning qualitative research. The course content can partly be individualized.

Schedule

HUT/TUAS-house, 1st floor

Otaniementie 17

Espoo

Finland

Timetable for the first intensive day:

9.30 - 10.30 Session 1: What is CER
10.30 - 11.00 Coffee
11.00 - 12.15 Session 2: Qualitative research
12.15 - 13.30 Lunch (joint)
13.30 - 15.00 Session 3: Quantitative research
15.00 - 15.30 Coffee
15.30 - 16.30 Session 3: Mixed methods
16.30 - 17.00 Session 4: More student presentations
17.00 - 17.30 Round up
17.30 The end of the (academic) day

This timetable may vary slightly.

Participants

PhD-students and master students in Computing Education Research, Engineering Education Research, Computer Science, Information Science, Learning Technology, Ethnocomputing or related fields. The course is suitable both for beginners and advanced students.

Assessment    

Only the grades Pass or Fail are given. The grade is based on attendance, written exercise, presentations, project work and discussions.

Teachers and Organisers

Anders Berglund (UpCERG, Uppsala University, Sweden) and Päivi Kinnunen (Helsinki University of technology, Finland)

Course overview

Before the meeting: Read five articles (to be selected by teachers) that illustrate computing education research. Write a summary.

During the meeting: Presentations and overview of research approaches, qualitative and quantitative research, positivistic and interpretative research. Discussions concerning the papers.


Meeting 2: Results

Before the meeting: Read ten articles (circa 50 pages) (to be selected by teachers and participants) that illustrate the nature of the results of different research approaches. Write a summary.

During the meeting: Morning: Participant presentations and discussions on the reading material. Afternoon: Methods. Presentations of some research approaches and their theoretical bases.


Meeting 3: Methods

Before the meeting: Read ten articles (circa 50 pages) (to be selected by teachers and participants) that illustrate different research approaches. Write a summary.

During the meeting: Morning: Participant presentations and discussions on the reading material. Afternoon: Quality, particularly trustworthiness of qualitative research.


Meeting 4: Quality

Before the meeting: Read some articles (to be selected by teachers and participants) that illustrate the nature of the results of different research approaches. Write a reflection over quality issues in the own research project.

During the meeting: Participant presentations and discussions on the quality of own projects.