Learning to Teach: A Guide to Using Learning Theories in Computer Science Education.

This full paper proposes an innovative framework for teaching computer science topics to undergraduate students in Computer Science and Teacher Training (CSTT) for k12 majors. A Computer Science major is required by k12 teachers in Computer Science. However, there has been a concern in Brazil over the lack of explicit pedagogical methods included in CSTT majors. In this context, our research question is: how to teach a CSTT major, so that knowledge of computer science is learned by learning how to teach it through the application of a learning theory? To address this research question, this paper presents the LLL framework, a practical approach in which undergraduate students design and plan computer science lessons using a learning theory approach with a focus on teaching computer science to schools. The acronym LLL comes from “Learn computer science and Learn how to teach computer science by applying a Learning theory”. The LLL framework was tested in two consecutive courses in a year-long study on the operating systems topic in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Brasilia (UnB). UnB was a pioneer, founding the first CSTT major for basic education in Brazil in 1997. The undergraduate students were asked to plan a lesson using this approach and teach the content to their peers, being assessed by the instructors and their peers. The findings showed that the LLL framework is effective for preparing future k12 teachers to teach this content to school students. By adopting the LLL framework, CSTT undergraduate students (teacher candidates) will be able to develop solid pedagogical skills and provide a more meaningful learning experience for k12 students. This methodology has the potential to improve the quality of computer science teaching in schools, contributing to the training of undergraduate students who will be more prepared and engaged in this field.