search for designs that improve both the learning of computing
and broader effects of that learning.

Computing Education

to help find better designs and to help interpret their
effects on the world

Use of Theory

 if not used carefully, it can inhibit progress in subtle but important ways

 includes terms, framing, causal mechanisms, arguments (a collection of related claims),and a body of evidence that supports or contradicts those arguments

a theory

includes terms that name and describe phenomena

a descriptive theory

includes procedures for measurement of some terms as well as arguments
and evidence for their validity

an operational theory

Nelson, G. L., &amp; Ko, A. J. (2018). On use of theory in Computing Education Research. Proceedings of the 2018 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1145/3230977.3230992 

New York University

With advances in technology, the skill of computational thinking is being seen as increasingly useful. Promoters of CS education claim it places emphasis on skill and competence building, creative expression and participation, and social justice and ethics.

Computer Science Education In K-12

They are cognitive computational thinking, situated computational thinking, and critical computational thinking.

Three Different Framings of Computational Thinking

ICER '19: Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research. July 2019. Pages 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1145/3291279.3339400

From Theory Bias to Theory Dialogue: Embracing Cognitive, Situated, and Critical Framings of Computational Thinking in K-12 CS Education

Computational thinking is solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behavior through fundamental computing concepts. It has been seen as a general-purpose skill that all students need to learn to gain competence. 

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