In search of a philosophy of computing education.

McDermott, Roger; Daniels, Mats; Frezza, Stephen

Abstract

In this paper, we present a preliminary description of the field of inquiry encompassed by the philosophy of computing education. We first attempt to identify a general framework for investigating characteristic questions of a philosophical nature that arise within the STEM application domains. We describe the categories such questions fall under and use the philosophy of computing to illustrate this process. We also consider an alternative approach to identifying philosophical issues within a practical field, using the philosophy of education as an example. We consider the related subject of the philosophy of engineering education and see how this has recently emerged as an object of study in its own right. We investigate the similarities and differences between this field and the philosophy of computing education, and provide an initial description of the latter subject area. We also discuss how it relates to the subject referred to as Computing Education Research. Finally, we draw some conclusions about why there is this puzzling, apparent lack of interest in current work in this area, and suggest reasons why the pursuit of philosophical inquiry into computing education should be an important aspect of scholarly study in the subject.

Citation

MCDERMOTT, R., DANIELS,M. and FREZZA, S. 2023. In search of a philosophy of computing eduction. In Proceedings of the 2023 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Frontiers in education conference (FIE 2023), 18-21 October 2023, College Station, TX, USA. Piscataway: IEEE [online], article 10343513. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE58773.2023.10343513

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 2023 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Frontiers in education conference (FIE 2023)
• Start Date: Oct 18, 2023
• End Date: Oct 21, 2023
• Acceptance Date: Jun 12, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 31, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 1, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 1, 2024
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Series ISSN: 1539-4565
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE58773.2023.10343513
• Keywords: Philosophy; Philosophy of computing; Philosophy of computing education; Philosophy of education; Philosophy of engineering education
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2225908