Donald Joyce

Research methods in computing: what are they, and how should we teach them?

Despite a lack of consensus on the nature of Computing Research Methods (CRM), a growing number of programs are exploring models and content for CRM courses. This report is one step in a participatory design process to develop a general framework for thinking about and teaching CRM.We introduce a novel sense-making structure for teaching CRM. That structure consists of a road map to the CRM literature, a framework grounded in questions rather than answers, and two CRM skill sets: core skills and specific skills. We integrate our structure with a model for the process a learner goes through on the way to becoming an expert computing researcher and offer example learning activities that represent a growing repository of course materials meant to aid those wishing to teach research skills to computing students.Our model is designed to ground discussion of teaching CRM and to serve as a roadmap for institutions, faculty, students and research communities addressing the transition from student to fully enfranchised member of a computing research community of practice. To that end, we offer several possible scenarios for using our model.In computing, research methods have traditionally been passed from advisor to student via apprenticeship. Establishing a richer pedagogy for training researchers in computing will benefit all (see Figure 1).

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: Australasian perspectives

This paper reviews nearly 80 published items concerned with promoting academic integrity and reducing plagiarism. Nearly all of them were published in the last seven years and have authors based in Australasia. Most of them have authors from computing departments and many were published in computing journals or presented at computing conferences. The paper begins with a description of how the reviewed items were selected, then dates and types of publication are analysed, key concepts and terms are listed, perspectives and themes are identified, and the referenced literature is reviewed by theme.

Innovation in post graduate computer science education

This presentation will outline the progress to date of the development of the Master of Computing degree program, the courses developed, the philosophy behind the development, the structure including the exit qualification and the proposed delivery. It will also outline the quality assurance process and the very stringent accreditation process required before it is approved for delivery.