Jacqueline Whalley, Auckland University of Technology
In this talk, I will explore key findings from the literature on teaching computer programming through stories of my own personal experiences as a student and teacher, and my observations of novice learners in the field. I will further explore how the work of other researchers has influenced my own thinking and teaching practices over the last twenty years.
Biography
Professor Jacqui Whalley’s research interests lie in the field of computer science and software engineering education, with a particular focus on the teaching and learning of programming. As an avid programmer, Jacqui is intrigued by the challenges faced by novice software developers and how research-informed approaches to teaching may be applied to enhance student success. Her recent research relates to developing processes for learning debugging of programs and how student teams operate. Jacqui’s research uses the lenses of sociology and psychology to improve student outcomes in computer science programmes. She studies students “in the wild” and uses the students’ natural and intuitive models of working to inform pedagogical advances in the field. Jacqui is actively involved in the development of curricula and an advocate for scholarship in teaching and learning.