The paper "Constructivism in Computer Science Education" by Mordechai Ben-Ari explores the application of constructivism in computer science education (CSE). Constructivism, a theory of learning that emphasizes active construction of knowledge by students, has been influential in science and mathematics education but less so in CSE. The author surveys the literature on constructivism and its relevance to CSE, highlighting the need for a theoretical framework to address issues and evaluate proposals in CSE. Key points include: - Constructivism posits that knowledge is constructed recursively, combining sensory data with existing cognitive structures. - In CSE, students often lack an effective model of a computer, which hinders their learning. - Constructivism can explain phenomena such as the difficulty students face in understanding concepts like variables and the frustration associated with learning computer science. - The paper discusses the importance of explicitly teaching models of the computer and the role of group work and reflection in facilitating knowledge construction. - Constructivism suggests that programming exercises should be delayed until students have a good model of the computer. - The author emphasizes the need for research to understand how students' models of the computer evolve and whether they are stepping stones to more advanced knowledge. The paper concludes that constructivism can provide a powerful set of concepts to guide debates and improve CSE education.The paper "Constructivism in Computer Science Education" by Mordechai Ben-Ari explores the application of constructivism in computer science education (CSE). Constructivism, a theory of learning that emphasizes active construction of knowledge by students, has been influential in science and mathematics education but less so in CSE. The author surveys the literature on constructivism and its relevance to CSE, highlighting the need for a theoretical framework to address issues and evaluate proposals in CSE. Key points include: - Constructivism posits that knowledge is constructed recursively, combining sensory data with existing cognitive structures. - In CSE, students often lack an effective model of a computer, which hinders their learning. - Constructivism can explain phenomena such as the difficulty students face in understanding concepts like variables and the frustration associated with learning computer science. - The paper discusses the importance of explicitly teaching models of the computer and the role of group work and reflection in facilitating knowledge construction. - Constructivism suggests that programming exercises should be delayed until students have a good model of the computer. - The author emphasizes the need for research to understand how students' models of the computer evolve and whether they are stepping stones to more advanced knowledge. The paper concludes that constructivism can provide a powerful set of concepts to guide debates and improve CSE education.