title: Motivating girls in computational thinking: Insights from primary education research

authors: Rhodes, Kate

subjects: computational thinking

abstract: This conference paper explores the research methods and preliminary findings of a research focused on understanding primary school girls' motivation in Computational Thinking (CT). By analysing current literature, the scope of the research, and emerging data, the research sheds light on strategies to bridge persistent gender gaps in Computer Science (CS) and CT education. 

The literature highlights the ongoing underrepresentation of females in CS and CT fields, advocating for early interventions that frame computing as enjoyable, hands-on and supported by relatable role models. Addressing these gaps, this research employs a three-phase Design-Based Research methodology within a New Zealand primary school. Data collection includes focus groups with both teachers and female students, observations and Likert scale surveys to examine motivational factors during CT activities. 

The research methods and initial findings from the research are shared, revealing how teachers’ pedagogical choices, including authentic Technology practice and collaboration activities impact girls’ motivation. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of how to foster gender equity in STEM education by creating more inclusive and motivating environments for younger learners.

text: Motivating girls in computational thinking: Insights from primary education research This conference paper explores the research methods and preliminary findings of a research focused on understanding primary school girls' motivation in Computational Thinking (CT). By analysing current literature, the scope of the research, and emerging data, the research sheds light on strategies to bridge persistent gender gaps in Computer Science (CS) and CT education. 

The literature highlights the ongoing underrepresentation of females in CS and CT fields, advocating for early interventions that frame computing as enjoyable, hands-on and supported by relatable role models. Addressing these gaps, this research employs a three-phase Design-Based Research methodology within a New Zealand primary school. Data collection includes focus groups with both teachers and female students, observations and Likert scale surveys to examine motivational factors during CT activities. 

The research methods and initial findings from the research are shared, revealing how teachers’ pedagogical choices, including authentic Technology practice and collaboration activities impact girls’ motivation. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of how to foster gender equity in STEM education by creating more inclusive and motivating environments for younger learners.

year: 2025

title: Guarded operations, refinement and simulation

authors: Reeves, Steve

subjects: computer science

abstract: Simulation rules have long been used as an effective computational means to decide  refinement relations in state-based formalisms. Here we investigate how they might be amended so as to decide the event-based notion of singleton failures refinement of abstract data types or processes that have operations with a "guarded" interpretation.  As the results presented here and found elsewhere in the literature are so sensitive to the details of the definitions used, we have machine-checked our results.

text: Guarded operations, refinement and simulation Simulation rules have long been used as an effective computational means to decide  refinement relations in state-based formalisms. Here we investigate how they might be amended so as to decide the event-based notion of singleton failures refinement of abstract data types or processes that have operations with a "guarded" interpretation.  As the results presented here and found elsewhere in the literature are so sensitive to the details of the definitions used, we have machine-checked our results.

year: 2009-06-10

title: E kore e ngaro, he takere waka nui: Te mātauranga whakatere waka me ōna take nunui

authors: Tuaupiki, Jackie Whetumarama

abstract: E kapi ana te hautoru o te ao i te Moana nui a Kiwa. I ngā tau manomano ka huri, ka puea ake i Āhia ki te tonga mā rāwhiti, he iwi māia, he iwi mātau ki te hanga me te whakatere i ō rātou waka. Ka tupu ngātahi hoki i a rātou tētehi mātauranga whakatere i tarawhitia e rātou ngā tōpito katoa o te Moana nui a Kiwa. Koinei ngā tāngata tuatahi, nāna i kau ngā ara terenga waka onamata. Nō ngā tau maha i muri iho, ka whanake tēnei mātauranga me tō rātou hangarau waka, ā, ka tīmata ngā terenga whakawhiti roa e tau haeretia ana ngā moutere o Poronīhia, tatū mai ki Aotearoa. Engari ia, i roto i te wā, i tino waikauere ngā mahi whakatere waka, ā, i ētehi moutere o Poronīhia, i wairuhi kau, he mahara noa i mau i te kōrero tuku iho. Ko tātou tērā, te iwi Māori.

Otirā, i roto i ngā tau e whā tekau ka pahemo atu rā, kua whakawhāiti mai tētehi ohu ki te whakahaumanu i ngā mahi whakatere waka me tōna mātauranga. He waka hourua kua hangaia i Poronīhia, i te ātārangi tawhito hei amo i ngā whakamanawatanga o ngā iwi me ngā kaupapa whakarauora i ēnei mahi tūpuna. Ka tika te oha ki te hunga hāpai kura i takere nui ai, i haumi tūporo ai ki te whakahaumanu i te mātauranga whakatere waka. Nō reira, o ngā mahi rangatira kua tutuki i te rāngai waka i Aotearoa i ngā tau tata nei, ko tā tēnei rangahau, he kohura i ētehi o ngā take nunui me ngā kaupapa whakahirahira e puta mai ana i mua i te aroaro o te mātauranga whakatere waka me ōna kaumoana i ēnei rangi, ki tā te Māori titiro. Waihoki, ko te pānga o aua take nunui ki te ahurea Māori. Koinei te matū o tēnei tuhinga kairangi. He pūtoi whakaaro, he whakaemieminga kōrero ki te whakatakoto i ngā huatau o ngā puhi kai moana Māori e tākawe ana i tēnei wānanga.

Mātua rā, e kore e tukua kia riro anō ngā mahi whakatere waka i te nenewhatanga o te rā, tau ki te rua. Kua whakatupuria e te wā he kura kaumoana Māori, māna ngā take matua o tēnei tuhinga roa e whakatutuki ki tua i te pae kai ao.

“E kore e ngaro, he takere waka nui”

text: E kore e ngaro, he takere waka nui: Te mātauranga whakatere waka me ōna take nunui E kapi ana te hautoru o te ao i te Moana nui a Kiwa. I ngā tau manomano ka huri, ka puea ake i Āhia ki te tonga mā rāwhiti, he iwi māia, he iwi mātau ki te hanga me te whakatere i ō rātou waka. Ka tupu ngātahi hoki i a rātou tētehi mātauranga whakatere i tarawhitia e rātou ngā tōpito katoa o te Moana nui a Kiwa. Koinei ngā tāngata tuatahi, nāna i kau ngā ara terenga waka onamata. Nō ngā tau maha i muri iho, ka whanake tēnei mātauranga me tō rātou hangarau waka, ā, ka tīmata ngā terenga whakawhiti roa e tau haeretia ana ngā moutere o Poronīhia, tatū mai ki Aotearoa. Engari ia, i roto i te wā, i tino waikauere ngā mahi whakatere waka, ā, i ētehi moutere o Poronīhia, i wairuhi kau, he mahara noa i mau i te kōrero tuku iho. Ko tātou tērā, te iwi Māori.

Otirā, i roto i ngā tau e whā tekau ka pahemo atu rā, kua whakawhāiti mai tētehi ohu ki te whakahaumanu i ngā mahi whakatere waka me tōna mātauranga. He waka hourua kua hangaia i Poronīhia, i te ātārangi tawhito hei amo i ngā whakamanawatanga o ngā iwi me ngā kaupapa whakarauora i ēnei mahi tūpuna. Ka tika te oha ki te hunga hāpai kura i takere nui ai, i haumi tūporo ai ki te whakahaumanu i te mātauranga whakatere waka. Nō reira, o ngā mahi rangatira kua tutuki i te rāngai waka i Aotearoa i ngā tau tata nei, ko tā tēnei rangahau, he kohura i ētehi o ngā take nunui me ngā kaupapa whakahirahira e puta mai ana i mua i te aroaro o te mātauranga whakatere waka me ōna kaumoana i ēnei rangi, ki tā te Māori titiro. Waihoki, ko te pānga o aua take nunui ki te ahurea Māori. Koinei te matū o tēnei tuhinga kairangi. He pūtoi whakaaro, he whakaemieminga kōrero ki te whakatakoto i ngā huatau o ngā puhi kai moana Māori e tākawe ana i tēnei wānanga.

Mātua rā, e kore e tukua kia riro anō ngā mahi whakatere waka i te nenewhatanga o te rā, tau ki te rua. Kua whakatupuria e te wā he kura kaumoana Māori, māna ngā take matua o tēnei tuhinga roa e whakatutuki ki tua i te pae kai ao.

“E kore e ngaro, he takere waka nui”

year: 2017