Identification of Threshold Concepts for Intermediate Computer Science Students

• Published in: 2023 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: McSkimming, Brian M., Mackay, Sean, Decker, Adrienne
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 18.10.2023
• Subjects: Computer Science Education; Computing Education Research; Education; Intermediate Students; Programming profession; Threshold Concepts; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 2377-634X
• DOI: 10.1109/FIE58773.2023.10343211

WIP Research Paper: The ability to identify threshold concepts within a discipline recognizes key components within a curriculum which, when learned, enables an individual to demonstrate as a member of that community. Within computer science, potential threshold concepts have sparked debates among researchers. According to the original definition by Meyer and Land, threshold concepts result in an individual being placed into a state of uncertainty or liminality and successful traversal of this liminal state results in a potentially irreversible transformation. When seeking to identify threshold concept, researchers often search for what concepts students feel are 'troublesome' or 'difficult to learn' since this state is often difficult to describe or understand when currently inside it or just past it. While threshold concepts have been identified for the beginning stages of programming, there is little to no work on the intermediate years of university computing education (years 2 & 3) and what potential threshold concepts exist during that time for computer science students. Our goal with this research is to help address this gap by answering the following research question: What concepts do intermediate students identify as being troublesome and/or 'uncomfortable to learn' within their computer science coursework?