Methods in Computer Science Education: Design

Course objectives

General goals Study and be able to apply the most recent methodologies for Computer Science teaching in high-schools. The course will show several use-cases on Computer Science teaching at school. Detailed goals: • Design and development of Computer Science teaching methodologies: principles and methods for learning activities design, and more in general, for the design of Computer Science curricula following the national guidelines for teaching C.S. in high-schools. • Didactic methodologies and and technologies to study the interaction of Computer Science in the society, with particular attention to ethic aspects, like: privacy and personal data, automation of decisions and recommendations, copyright issues. Knowledge and comprehension: Principles and methods to design and C.S. learning activities in the high-school. Ethic aspects of the management of personal data and contents in the society. Application of knowledge and comprehension: The student will design and develop some didactic modules for high-schools. Judgment authonomy: The student will be autonomous both by choosing the didactic module to develop and during its design and implementation phases. Communication abilities: The students should show to be able to design high-quality didactic modules, engaging and able to communicate with precision the topic of the lesson developed. Continuous education: The design methodology for the didactic modules seen in the course will be easily applicable to other courses.

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Alessandra De vitis Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
• Critical analysis about the main methodologies for teaching developed for computer science education. They refer also to teacher specific role and to the concepts , epistemology, linguistic and education of CS teaching and learning. In particular the differences between CS as a subject and CS applications. • Design and developing of teaching methodologies for CS: explanation of principles and methods to build activities and in general to build a CS curriculum as requested in national Guide lines for secondary high schools. • Differences between CS methodologies and educational methodologies: problem solving technics; problems epistemological approach; cooperative methods for solutions developing. • Educational methodologies and technics to study relations between CS and today world, in particular ethical aspects like personal data processing, decision automation, copyright.
Prerequisites
Computer science knowledge. Basic knowledge about network and electronics
Books
General CS school books for high schools. e-learning platform like Cisco netacad. Interactive platforms useful for making educational games like mentimeter, bubbles, kahoot and others. Professor’s notes
Frequency
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended due to the numerous laboratory activities carried out during lessons.
Exam mode
Oral test.: learning Unit building. Pre exam. 10/30 points 2 CFU Practical test . arduino project. Pre exam. 11/30 points 2 CFU Written test: open questions about legislation 5/30 points 1 CFU Conclusion of 4 Educational CISCO Courses 4/30 ( 1 point for each ended course) 1CFU
Lesson mode
Different teaching methodologies will be explained, as well as the application of Arduino for learning. Interactive learning platforms will be used. Different methodologies for creating effective learning units will be illustrated.
  • Lesson code10589558
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseComputer Science
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDINF/01
  • CFU6