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CS 294-198: Design and Evaluation of Processes for Teaching Computer Science at Scale

Table of Contents

Notes for Lisa Yan’s and Michael Ball’s Fall 2025 course. A work in progress.

Student Knowledge and Misconceptions (September 30, 2025)1

  • Expert blindspots.
  • Expert-novice research paradigm.
    • Experts classified problems based on principle; novices classified based on common problem features.
  • Conceptual change research: how does science intuition change? How does prior knowledge affect this development of new knowledge?
  • ‘Superbug’ misconception: incorrectly assuming that programming language is more intelligent than in actuality.
  • Situated learning: what social engagement is necessary for learning to take place?
  • Disciplinary knowledge, navigation, and identification.
  • How does identity affect students’ decisions to pursue or leave computing?
  • Rainfall problem: standard programming benchmark.
  • Carefully selecting examples to avoid the development of common misconceptions.

  1. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-handbook-of-computing-education-research/student-knowledge-and-misconceptions/904F0C6898BA9797F88EF9FCD3A589A4 ↩