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What does saying that 'programming is hard' really say, and about whom?

Published: 26 July 2021 Publication History

Abstract

Shifting the focus from the perceived difficulty of learning programming to making programming more universally accessible.

References

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Becker, B.A. et al. Compiler error messages considered unhelpful: The landscape of text-based programming error message research. In Proceedings of the Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (Aberdeen, Scotland UK) (ITiCSE-WGR '19). ACM, New York, NY, 2019, 177--210; https://bit.ly/2T97WUT
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Birnbaum, L., Hambrusch, S. and Lewis, C. Report on the CUE.NEXT Workshops. Technical Report (2020); https://bit.ly/3x8ev8Q
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Guzdial, M. Learner-centered design of computing education: Research on computing for everyone. Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered Informatics 8, 6 (2015), 1--165.
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Luxton-Reilly, A. Learning to program is easy. In Proceedings of the 2016 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (Arequipa, Peru) (ITiCSE '16). ACM, New York, NY, 2016, 284--289; https://bit.ly/3ivrKfM
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Luxton-Reilly, A. et al. Introductory programming: A systematic literature review. In Proceedings Companion of the 23rd Annual ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (Larnaca, Cyprus) (ITiCSE 2018 Companion). ACM, New York, NY, 2018, 55--106; https://bit.ly/3v1D9qh
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Nguyen, A. and Lewis, C.M. Competitive enrollment policies in computing departments negatively predict first-year students' sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and perception of department. In Proceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (Portland, OR, USA) (SIGCSE '20). ACM, New York, NY, 2020, 685--691; https://bit.ly/2TTr3Tl
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Sime, M.E., Arblaster, A.T., and Green, T.R.G. Structuring the programmer's task. Journal of Occupational Psychology 50, 3 (1977), 205--216; https://bit.ly/3w4NNxL
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Tedre, M. From a black art to a school subject: Computing education's search for status. In Proceedings of the 2020 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (Trondheim, Norway) (ITiCSE '20). ACM, New York, NY, 2020, 3--4; https://bit.ly/3v436po

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  1. What does saying that 'programming is hard' really say, and about whom?

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    Published In

    cover image Communications of the ACM
    Communications of the ACM  Volume 64, Issue 8
    August 2021
    116 pages
    ISSN:0001-0782
    EISSN:1557-7317
    DOI:10.1145/3477555
    Issue’s Table of Contents
    Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for third-party components of this work must be honored. For all other uses, contact the Owner/Author.

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    Association for Computing Machinery

    New York, NY, United States

    Publication History

    Published: 26 July 2021
    Published in CACM Volume 64, Issue 8

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    • (2024)Guidelines for the Evolving Role of Generative AI in Introductory Programming Based on Emerging PracticeProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653602(10-16)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
    • (2024)A Global Survey of Introductory Programming CoursesProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630761(799-805)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
    • (2023)The Robots Are Here: Navigating the Generative AI Revolution in Computing EducationProceedings of the 2023 Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education10.1145/3623762.3633499(108-159)Online publication date: 22-Dec-2023
    • (2023)No More Pencils No More Books: Capabilities of Generative AI on Irish and UK Computer Science School Leaving ExaminationsProceedings of the 2023 Conference on United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research10.1145/3610969.3610982(1-7)Online publication date: 7-Sep-2023
    • (2023)SQL: A Trojan Horse Hiding a Decathlon of ComplexitiesProceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Data Systems Education: Bridging education practice with education research10.1145/3596673.3603142(9-13)Online publication date: 23-Jun-2023
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    • (2023)The Impacts of a Constructionist Scratch Programming Pedagogy on Student Achievement with a Focus on GenderProceedings of the ACM Conference on Global Computing Education Vol 110.1145/3576882.3617911(29-35)Online publication date: 5-Dec-2023
    • (2023)Always Provide Context: The Effects of Code Context on Programming Error Message EnhancementProceedings of the ACM Conference on Global Computing Education Vol 110.1145/3576882.3617909(147-153)Online publication date: 5-Dec-2023
    • (2023)The Unsolved Mystery of the Gender Imbalance in ITReconstructions of Gender and Information Technology10.1007/978-981-99-5187-1_2(21-39)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2023
    • (2023)IDE Interactions of Novices Transitioning Between Programming EnvironmentsTowards a Collaborative Society Through Creative Learning10.1007/978-3-031-43393-1_54(603-614)Online publication date: 28-Sep-2023
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