Call for Participation

The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference from the UK ACM Special Interest Group in Computing Science Education Chapter is seeking high quality contributions to research relevant to computing science education.

Contributions are sought in a variety of categories with emphasis on high-quality and rigorous work. Researchers have the opportunity to disseminate their work as a full paper, workshop or poster.

The following contributions are sought from the community:

• Papers. Six-page research or tool design papers for presentation at the conference and publication in the proceedings.

• DC Applications. Two-page application to participate in the Doctoral Consortium (DC) at the conference, including single-page abstract for publication in the conference proceedings.

• WiP Applications. Two-page application to participate in the Works-in-Progress (WiP) at the conference.

• Research in Practice Project Activities (RIPPA). Two-page proposals for RIPPA activity at conference.

• Workshop proposals. Two-page workshop proposal for workshops to be delivered to attendees at the conference.

• Posters. Single-page poster abstract for publication in conference proceedings and poster for presentation at the conference.

Submission for all the afordmentioned contributions should be made via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines prior to submitting contributions for consideration.

Any questions about submissions should be emailed to the Programme Chairs.

Papers

We invite submissions of research papers on the topic of computing science education. Themes of interest include:

• Computing science education pedagogy
• Assessing and providing feedback on computing assignments
• Issues of inclusivity and diversity
• Tools to aid computing science education
• Computing science education issues particularly relevant to a British and/or Irish context

All submissions related to computing science education are welcome, at any stage of formal education (or outside formal education).

Papers should describe a rigorously executed piece of work, include a motivating research question and discussion of prior related work. We welcome:

• Research papers describing a research experiment in a school, university or informal educational setting. The experiment should be rigorously conducted – if this is the case, null results will still be considered for publication.


• Tool design papers which carefully document design constraints, user considerations, relevant pedagogical concerns, and justify the design decisions taken in a way that would be useful to other designers, and include details of user testing or other initial measures of effectiveness.

All submitted papers should have a research component. Papers focused purely on practice-related topics such as implementation of new curricula or new course designs may be better suited to our sister Computing Education Practice conference.

Papers that authors would like to be considered for presentation at the conference and publication in proceedings must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for papers prior to submission.

Paper Format and Submission

Papers should be submitted in ACM double-column conference proceedings format. The page limit is six pages, not counting the references. The references may occupy a seventh page if the paper reaches the six-page limit. Papers must be submitted in an anonymised form for double-blind review. Accepted papers will be included in the proceedings, and presented in a session at the conference.

Doctoral Consortium

The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference Doctoral Consortium (DC) provides an opportunity for doctoral students to engage with peers and work with researchers to reflect on the wider computing education research landscape and expand it through connection and collaboration.

Works-in-Progress (WiP) Workshop

The WiP is a small, intimate venue, a ‘grown-up doctoral consortium’ for academics. The aspiration is to bring together individuals to act as critical friends to discuss and nurture ideas and projects that are in progress. The ‘works’ from participants vary in terms of type, from research papers to projects, and progress, from embryonic to near-completion.

Workshops

We invite proposals for running 1-2 hour workshops. The workshops should be relevant to British and Irish educators (in a university or school setting) and/or computing science education researchers. Example workshops may be on the use of research techniques (e.g. qualitative methods), grant writing, pedagogical techniques (e.g. peer instruction), tools (e.g. programming environments, assessment tools), or any other topic which may be relevant to conference attendees.

Workshop organisers will be given an opportunity to advertise their workshop via a one-minute lightning talk earlier in the conference.

Workshop proposal that leaders would like to be considered for delivery at the conference must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for workshop proposals prior to submission.

Posters

We invite posters for presentation and discussion at the conference. The posters should be relevant to British and Irish educators (in a university or school setting) and/or computing science education researchers. Example posters could include initial ideas, experimental designs, pedagogical techniques or early proposals to address open challenges in computing science education research.

Poster abstracts that presenters would like to be considered for presentation at the conference must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for poster abstracts prior to submission.

Research in Practice Project Activities (RIPPAs)

Research in Practice Project Activities (RIPPAs) are a relatively new form of collaborative, community-forming activity for Computing Science education research and practice at UKICER.

The aim is to bring practitioners and researchers together in computing science education to form networks, exchanges ideas, form collaborations and put research into practice, incorporate research into practice or improving practice.

RIPPAs span several months and participants are expected to commit to participating in a small number of online workshops as well as conducting some activity in their context, such as incorporating research into practice, collecting data and/or conducting research.

Participation and Commitment

The specific participation and commitment requirements depends on the RIPPA, but broadly RIPPAs require participants to:

• Attend start-up workshop at UKICER. The workshop will introduce the RIPPA, methodologies and approaches used as well as provide an opportunity for participants to get to know each other and learn about what is happening across the community.


• Perform activity. RIPPA participants are expected to perform some activity as part of the project. This activity could be to conduct research in their own context, incorporate research into their own practice or improve their practice. Participants would then share their contributes back to the group remotely.


• Attend interim workshop. The workshop - which will usually be online, unless RIPPA leaders can facilitate in-person meeting - will give participants an opportunity to share their contributions as well as analyse results and discuss any insights from the activity. The group will then begin to form it into a complete outcome and decide next steps.


• Capstone workshop. The final workshop to pull together any remaining work involved in the activity and form into an artefact that can be disseminated among the community through the optimal channel, such as UKICER or the Computing Education Practice (CEP).


• Relax and unwind at a wrap-up dinner. Wrap-up meal and opportunity to reflect on the experience and plan future collaborations with other rippers.

Outcomes

The focus of RIPPAs is the participants and the expectation is that they will achieve the following from participating in a RIPPA:

• Strengthened knowledge and skills in research and practice. Dependent on the specific RIPPA, the expectation is that participants will strengthen their research knowledge and skills. This could be awareness emerging teaching practice and how to investigate it, appropriate methodologies for computing education research (CER) and/or deepened appreciation of the state of the art in CER.


• Strengthened and expanded network of collaborators. Form connections with academics, scholars and researchers from across the computing science education community with similar interests and challenges. Valuable not only for conducting future research investigations but also to gain insight into innovative practice in other institutions as well as creating bonds with other academics to discuss on-going sector challenges and how to solve them.


• Publication. The expectation is that outcomes of RIPPAs will be high-quality, multi-institutional studies that are authentic and steeped in data from contexts spanning many different from many perspectives. Participants will be authors on such high-quality contributions that are difficult to devise and coordinate for most sole academics.

RIPPA proposals that presenters would like to be considered for delivery at the conference and beyond must be be submitted via EasyChair. Authors should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for RIPPA prior to submission.

Doctoral Consortium

The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference Doctoral Consortium (DC) provides an opportunity for doctoral students to engage with peers and work with researchers to reflect on the wider computing education research landscape and expand it through connection and collaboration.

Aims

The UKICER DC has the following aims:

1. To allow new researchers to attend the conference, understand the UK CSEd landscape, and be introduced to the UKICER community.

2. To help build a cohort group of PhD researchers who will then have a network of colleagues across the UK.

3. To influence the growth of the conference, and the UKICER community, through researchers who see UKICER as a “home” conference.

Participation and Commitment

Successful candidates are required to participate in a workshop on the first day of the conference and an activity session on the second day of the conference. Candidates may also be expected to participate in supplementary activities both before and after the Doctoral Consortium.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from doctoral students at any stage of study and from any discipline as long as:

• They are engaged in computing science education research (including, but not limited to: software engineering, cognitive psychology, programming languages and educational science).

• They have not graduated prior to the DC.

• They are registered with an institution in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Outcome

Attendance and participation in the DC is published in the conference proceedings. The following information will be published:

• Candidate Information
  • Name of Candidate
  • Institution
  • Area of computing education research focus or interest
  • Supervisory Team
• Abstract
  • Brief abstract (approximately 50 words) that provides sufficient insight into your work.
  • Two or three references to influential background or related work.
  • Early or established research goals or questions.
  • Current or expected contributions of the work.
  • Current or expected methodology to delivery contributions.

Application

Doctoral Consortium applications must be submitted via EasyChair. Candidates should consult the detail submission format instructions and guidelines for the Doctoral Consortium prior to submission. Successful candidates are required to register for the conference, engage in the DC and attend in-person.

Works in Progress (WiP) workshop

The Work in Progress (WiP) workshop is a specialised event for UKICER conference attendees who are established researchers in computing education research, or hold terminal degrees (such as PhDs). The aim of the workshop is to provide a community context in which attendees give and receive friendly and constructive feedback on their work. WiP is not appropriate for PhD students, who should consider the UKICER Doctoral Consortium.

A WiP workshop is an excellent opportunity to discuss and develop ongoing work. WiP submissions are concrete, anchored in a specific topic, and may be centred on various elements of work, including (but not limited to):

• A rejected paper
• A kernel of an idea
• A grant proposal
• A research project
• A study design
• An analysis approach

If accepted, attendees prepare a short primer on their work (4 page maximum) circulated in advance, this supports effective discussion. Depending on the number of participants we expect to spend 30 - 45 minutes discussing the work of each attendee.

Applying for the WiP Workshop

To apply to participate in the WiP workshop, please submit a 1- or 2-page overview of the project you'll present to the group. Also, include a brief description of previous research and areas of expertise you are able to offer the group. While no specific format is required, your submission should include:

• Your affiliation and title
• Project title and description (1–3 paragraphs)
• Stage of the project when WiP will occur (conceptual, new, on-going, near complete)
• Type of feedback sought (ideally, what would you most like from WiP participants? Research questions, design, critique, related works?)
• Your research experience (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods; study design; human subjects research; K-12, undergraduate, graduate, or professional contexts)
• Submit your application via EasyChair.

Accepted participants must prepare and submit a white paper (2–4 pages) to serve as a primer for all workshop participants. White papers are not published in the conference proceedings.

Authors

Authors should familirise themselves with submission requirements, review process and publication guidance.

• Submission. The submission requirements include guidance on the format of paper, workshop and poster submissions.

• Review. The review guidance outlines the process, declaring conflicts of interest and information regarding the proxy chair and panel.

• Publication. The publication guidance outlines the responsibilities of accepted authors as well as guidance on how to access previous proceedings.

Submission

Research paper, workshop proposals, posters, RIPPA and Doctoral Consortium submissions must be made through EasyChair.

There is an option on the submission form to indicate whether the submission is a research paper, workshop proposal or poster abstract. There is seperate format guidnace for each submission type.

• Research paper format. Six-page limit, references can occupy a seventh page.

• Workshop proposal format. Two-page limit, including references.

• RIPPA proposal format. Two-page limit, including references.

• Poster abstract format. One-page limit, including references.

• Doctoral Consortium Application format. Two-page application, including one-page abstract for publication in the conference proceedings.

All submission must confirm to the relevant ACM proceeding template.

Research paper format

Submissions must conform to the ACM proceeding template (double-column format). The page limit is six pages, excluding references. The references may occupy a seventh page if the paper reaches the six-page limit.

Authors must make an electronic submission in the form of a PDF file via EasyChair. Authors will need to create an EasyChair account, if they do not have one, and complete a submission form. The submission form requires authors to detail the submission type, title, abstract as well as contact information.

Submissions from authors must be anonymised to support the review process. The initial submission for review must be anonymised, authors must remove all references to them, including affiliations and any identifying information within the body of the submission.

Note that reviewers will assume they are reviewing completed works, as they will eventually appear in the conference proceedings. Do not submit incomplete drafts.

Workshop proposal format

Workshop proposals should be submitted in ACM double-column conference proceedings format. The page limit is two pages, including references. Workshop proposal must be submitted in an anonymised form for review. Workshop proposals should include: details of the workshop’s content, practical requirements (e.g. group discussion tables, computer room, etc) whether or not this workshop has been run before, and intended take-away knowledge for participants. Authors must make an electronic submission in the form of a PDF file via EasyChair.

The authors of accepted workshop proposals will be invited to deliver the workshop at the conference. Organisers that have any questions or need additional information, can contact the Workshops Chair on workshops@ukicer.com.

Workshop proposals are not included in the conference proceedings but are made available on the conference website.

Poster abstract format

Poster abstracts should be submitted in ACM double-column conference proceedings format. The page limit is one page, including references. Poster abstracts must be submitted in an anonymised form for review. Authors must make an electronic submission in the form of a PDF file via EasyChair.

Posters should describe the early or proposed work and contribution of it. Research Posters 101 provides a good starting point for considering the content and overall design of a strong research poster.

The authors of accepted poster abstracts will be invited to present a poster at the conference. Proposers that have any questions or need additional information, can contact the Posters Chair on posters@ukicer.com.

RIPPA proposal format

RIPPA proposals should be submitted in ACM double-column conference proceedings format. The page limit is two pages, including references. RIPPA proposals must be submitted in an anonymised form for review. RIPPA proposals should include typical submission details such as the abstract, keywords and introduction, as well as: details of the RIPPA's goals and outcomes, methodology or practical tasks involved, a schedule or timeline, and intended take-away knowledge and skills for the RIPPA participants. Authors must make an electronic submission in the form of a PDF file via EasyChair.

Doctoral Consortium Application format

Doctoral Consortium candidates must prepare and submit a two-page application via EasyChair. The application must comprise of one-page abstract submitted in ACM double-column conference proceedings format and a one-page appendix that contains applicant information.

The one-page abstract, that is published in the conference proceedings, must contain:

• Brief abstract (approximately 50 words) that provides sufficient insight into your work.
• Two or three references to influential background or related work.
• Early or established research goals or questions.
• Current or expected contributions of the work.
• Current or expected methodology to delivery contributions.

The one-page appendix, this is not published, must contain:

• Research description of your current work, including:
  • motivation,
  • research progress, and
  • engagement with prior research activities and events.
• Statement of nomination from your doctoral supervisor or supervisor team, detailing:
  • year of study,
  • expected timeline of completion,
  • confirmation that student is able to attend in-person at conference,
  • area of computing education research focus or interest, and
  • expectations for the doctoral consortium.

Review process

The review process is broadly similair for all contributions to the United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference that are published in the conference proceedings.

Process for Papers and Posters

The review process for papers and posters is double-blind with authors required to submit anonymised artefacts. Each submission is reviewed by at least three members of the programme committee. Upon completion of reviews, reviewers enter the discussion stage and are expected to discuss their reviews anonymously, especially when notable differences exist. The programme chair utilises discussions and reviews to determine an appropriate balance of accepted papers.

• Conflict of Interest. Reviewers are required to declare any conflicts of interest in advance of reviewing papers.

• Proxy chair and expert panel. Submissions that represent a conflict of interest for any of the chairs are passed to the proxy chair and panel for initial consideration.

• Accepted submissions. Authors must prepare accepted submissions for publication and at least one author is required to register and attend the conference.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must ensure their submissions abide by the ACM Conflict of Interest Policy (COI). Reviewers are required by chairs to identify any conflicts of interest prior to being allocated any submissions to review. Authors are expected to inform any conflicts of interest prior or at the point of submission of any artefacts for review.

Proxy chair and expert panel

Submissions that represent a conflict of interest for all conference chairs are passed to the proxy chair. The proxy chair assembles an expert panel of two or more members, the members are not required to be part of the programme committee. The members of the expert panel are not known to the chairs. The proxy chair and expert panel consider the conflicted papers, reviews and any discussion amongst reviewers. The expert panel makes the final decision on the conflicted papers and this is communicated to the conference chairs.

Process for Workshop

The workshop submitted by proposers are considered by the Workshop chair. The submissions put forward by proposers are considered confidential.

Process for Doctoral Consortium

The two-page Doctoral Consortium application submitted by each candidate is considered by the DC organisers. The submissions put forward by candidates are considered confidential.

Publication

The official publication date of the conference proceedings is when they become available via the digital repository. The specific date may be up to 14 days prior to the initial day of the conference. Contributors should be aware of this publication date when considering other artefacts associated with published work, e.g. patent filings.

• Previous proceedings. The proceedings for the previous conferences are accessible on the ACM Digital Library.

• Author registration. At least one author of accepted submissions is required to register and present the submission at the conference.

Previous proceedings

The proceedings from the conference last year are available on the ACM Digital Library

Any questions about submissions should be emailed to the Programme Chairs.

Accepted submissions

If accepted, authors must submit camera-ready source files through the ACM Production System (TAPS). The camera-ready submission must include author details, affiliations and any relevant information previously removed for the purposes of review.

• The ACM Production System (TAPS). Authors of accepted submissions will manage the final version via TAPS.

• The ACM provide proceeding templates as well as guide to the CCS2021.

• Fonts. Guidance on the requirement that final submissions must include embedded scalable fonts.

• References. Guidance on the requirement for balanced references in final paper submissions and that references can occupy a seventh page.

• Accessibility. Guidance on how to ensure the final submission is accessible to a wide audience.

• Copyright. Authors must ensure the final submission complies with ACM copyright policy.

• ACM e-Rights Transfer Application. Authors are required to complete an electronic ACM e-Rights Transfer Application.

• ACM Computing Classification System (CCS). Authors must include and display the ACM Computing Classification System (CCS) index terms.

• ACM Support. Guidance for authors of accepted submissions on who to contact at the ACM regarding problems with TAPS.

The ACM Production System (TAPS)

The ACM provide Master Articile and Production Workflows in Microsoft Word and LaTeX. The ACM also provide best practice guidance and videos for TAPS.

Templates

The ACM provide proceeding templates as well as guide to the CCS2021.

Fonts

Final camera-ready submissions must have embedded scalable fonts, those submissions that do not will need to be corrected. The ACM have provided documentation to support authors in ensuring their camea-ready submission have embedded scalable fonts.

References

The references may occupy a seventh page if the paper reaches the six-page limit, only references may occupy a seventh page. Authors should ensure that references are balanced (the two columns of references on the final page should be the same length).

Accessibility

SIGACCESS have provided documentation to support authors in ensuring their camea-ready submission is accessible.

Copyright

Authors are expected to review the ACM Copyright policy and ensure the final camera-ready submission complies with the policy and that authors properly documents any third-party material.

ACM e-Rights Transfer Application

Authors are required to complete an electronic ACM e-Rights Transfer Application and include the appropriate ACM Right Statement and bibliographic strip in the camera-ready submission. ACM will contact accepted authors shortly after notification of acceptance with the details. Authors should check SPAM folders for any emails from rightsreview@acm.org.

ACM Computing Classification System (CCS)

The camera-ready submission must also include and display the ACM Computing Classification System (CCS) index terms, as designated by the authors. The interactive ACM CCS tool can be used to generate the appropriate code block.

ACM Support

Authors that have questions or have encountered difficulties with the ACM authoring templates should contact the Aptara support team (acmtexsupport@aptaracorp.com). For specific queries with the conference proceeding publication, authors can contact submissions@ukicer.com.

Publication

The official publication date of the conference proceedings is when they become available via the digital repository. The specific date may be up to 14 days prior to the initial day of the conference. Contributors should be aware of this publication date when considering other artefacts associated with published work, e.g. patent filings.

• Previous proceedings. The proceedings for the previous conferences are accessible on the ACM Digital Library.

• Author registration. At least one author of accepted submissions is required to register and present the submission at the conference.

Previous proceedings

The proceedings from the conference last year are available on the ACM Digital Library

Author Registration

The final submission will be published in the conference proceedings. At least one author must register for the conference and present the accepted paper for it to appear in the conference proceedings. All accepted submissions must be presented at the conference by a subset of the authors.

Committees

General Chairs

• Duncan Hull, University of Manchester
• Fiona McNeill, University of Edinburgh

Programme Chairs

• Faron Moller, Swansea University
• Troy Astarte, Swansea University

Doctoral Consortium Chairs

• Brett Becker, University College Dublin
• Maria Kallia, University of Glasgow

Posters chairs

• Casey Hopkins, Swansea University
• Tom Carroll, Manchester University

WiP workshop chairs

• Neil Brown, King's College London
• Joseph Maguire, University of Glasgow

RIPPA chairs

• Sarah Lewthwaite, University of Southampton
• Jack Parkinson, University of Glasgow

Workshops chairs

• Megan Venn-Wycherley, Swansea University
• Ryan Crosby, Durham University

Local Organising Committee

• Duncan Hull, University of Manchester

Programme Committee

Jordan Allison, University of Gloucestershire

Troy Astarte, Swansea University

Steven Bradley, Durham University

Neil Brown, King's College London

Janet Carter, University of Kent

Paul Curzon, Queen Mary University of London

Julia Crossley, City University, London

Ryan Crosby, Durham University

Veronica Cucuiat, Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre

Marie Devlin, Newcastle University

Rosanne English, University of Strathclyde

Casey Hopkins, Swansea University

Duncan Hull, The University of Manchester

Maria Kallia, University of Glasgow

Sarah Lewthwaite, Southampton University

Faron Moller, Swansea University

Joseph Maguire, University of Glasgow

Jack Parkinson, University of Glasgow

Hannu Pesonen, Aalto University

Tom Prickett, Northumbria University

Keith Quille, TU Dublin

Seán Russell, University College Dublin

Sue Sentance, Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre

Ian Utting, University of Kent

Megan Venn-Wycherley, Swansea University

Jane Waite, Queen Mary University of London

Michel Wermelinger, The Open University

Heather Yorston, University of Edinburgh