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Academic story

Cracking the Code on Computing Education

Leestijd: 4 min · Door Academic Positions

Technology underpins every aspect of modern life. By educating young people about computer science, you give them the tools to understand and shape the world around us – from building new apps to improving productivity with ChatGPT. But how do we make sure the way we teach these vital digital skills is effective, inclusive, and dynamic enough to keep pace with an ever-changing world? Research into computing education aims to untangle these issues and set best practices, and one leading figure in this field is Ilenia Fronza, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. Ilenia also coordinates a European project called OSCAR, which centers around an innovative, high-quality, and inclusive Europe-wide platform for promoting cross-cutting digital skills through non-conventional learning experiences.

Ilenia during a presentation (image courtesy of Matteo Veggetti)

“At the moment I’m focused on non-conventional education – all those educational experiences that happen outside the traditional curriculum, like coding camps and hackathons,” Ilenia explains. These activities are distinct because, as one-off events, educators don’t have the same understanding of their students’ needs that they might have in a classroom. Compounding this challenge is the fact that they may be talking from behind a screen, or in a hybrid setting where only some participants attend in person.

In these environments, finding fresh ways to keep the students motivated is key. “Hands-on activities in which you are experimenting and learning by doing are much more effective with students, because they get more engaged,” says Ilenia. This approach defines the Hands-On LAboratory (HOLA) she runs at the university. Here, she also works with teachers to “co-design solutions and make sure they are ready to apply them in the classroom.” 

Coding camps and other educational experiences can give young people interested in pursuing a career in computer science the leg-up they need, building knowledge they might not be able to access in traditional school settings. It also encourages them to develop soft skills, such as “being able to work in a team, being able to work in a hybrid environment, and communication skills.” But participation in these coding camps is extremely rewarding even for the young people who don’t go on to have a career in this field. The number one benefit, Ilenia explains, is awareness – “you know what is behind the tools that you are using in your daily life, and the limitations that these kinds of systems can have.”

Her research also aims to ensure these coding camps are inclusive to all, and in particular, attractive to young women and girls. There are a number of factors which can influence how many girls choose to take part, and whether it’s a space they feel comfortable in. “How do you advertise? How do you describe the tasks? How do you make sure that women have more visibility in the organizational team? Do you make sure that everybody can express ideas during the camp? Is teamwork involved?” Ilenia has developed a framework around these ideas, which organizers can both use to assess the inclusivity of existing coding camps, and create more gender-balanced ones from the ground up.  

The kick-off of the 2024 edition of Ilenia's coding camp (image courtesy of Matteo Veggetti)

At the University of Bozen-Bolzano, the coding camp that Ilenia herself runs has now been taking place for 13 years, going from just a handful of participants to 240. The university is uniquely positioned at the forefront of this interesting field, as its faculty of engineering – which has just moved to a new campus in a science and technology park – includes spaces to conduct and study computing education, with cameras to record the training so it can be watched back from different perspectives. “The facilities are exactly what we needed – in perfect shape because everything is new, and very good.” 

Plus, over the years that she’s been at the university, Ilenia has built a network of the groups she needs to tap into for her research, such as teachers and school administrators. While this network exists thanks to the effort on her part, it couldn’t happen without the receptiveness of the local community. “They are willing to be part of the research, and interested in what we are doing. It’s very important to have open doors for your research in the community. Especially if you need to have people in the loop, to co-design or test solutions with.”

Uitgelicht - werkgever

The Free University of Bozen/Bolzano was founded on 31 October 1997 as a multilingual, internationally oriented institution.

Pagina van de werkgever bekijken
Gepubliceerd 2025-01-14

Uitgelicht - werkgever

The Free University of Bozen/Bolzano was founded on 31 October 1997 as a multilingual, internationally oriented institution.

Pagina van de werkgever bekijken

Uitgelicht - onderzoeker

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Ilenia Fronza
Website

Ilenia Fronza is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. She is a leading figure in Computing Education Research (CER).

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