Joseph P. Wilson, Ph.D.

To understand secondary teachers of computer science's perspectives on barriers to implementing equitable CS instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the research team administered a survey to the CS for All Teachers virtual community of practice in Spring 2021 and examined responses from middle and high school teachers of CS (n = 349). We used the CAPE framework (Capacity, Access, Participation, and Experience) to ground our analysis of survey responses. Key Finding 1 is that secondary CS… Show more

To understand secondary teachers of computer science's perspectives on barriers to implementing equitable CS instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the research team administered a survey to the CS for All Teachers virtual community of practice in Spring 2021 and examined responses from middle and high school teachers of CS (n = 349). We used the CAPE framework (Capacity, Access, Participation, and Experience) to ground our analysis of survey responses. Key Finding 1 is that secondary CS expansion is limited due to competing priorities related to college preparation and standardized testing requirements, which do not usually include CS (Capacity; Access). Key Finding 2 is that student access to broadband at home creates barriers to secondary CS learning (Access; Participation; Experience). These findings reinforce the evidence base that expanding K-12 CS education (before, during, and after COVID-19) faces significant barriers due to gaps and disparities in CS education policies and inequities in students' access to necessary technology. Show less

The Wind River Elementary Computer Science (WRECS) Collaborative is a research-practice partnership (RPP) among three school districts serving Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho communities on the Wind River Reservation, the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE), BootUp Professional Development (BootUp PD), and the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The purpose of the WRECS Collaborative is to develop culturally sustaining elementary computer science (CS) education through integration… Show more

The Wind River Elementary Computer Science (WRECS) Collaborative is a research-practice partnership (RPP) among three school districts serving Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho communities on the Wind River Reservation, the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE), BootUp Professional Development (BootUp PD), and the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The purpose of the WRECS Collaborative is to develop culturally sustaining elementary computer science (CS) education through integration of CS and Indigenous studies. The Collaborative engaged three cohorts of elementary educators in cycles of professional development, classroom implementation, and group reflection over the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 school years. In this experience report, we share a set of reflections and lessons learned as the RPP developed relationships and worked through intersecting priorities, instructional goals, and ways of knowing and learning present within the RPP. Show less

Teacher shortages in K–12 computer science (CS) education negatively impact students’ access to CS courses, exposure to CS concepts, and interest in CS-related careers. To address CS teacher shortages, this study seeks to understand factors related to expressing a preference to teach CS among prospective teachers. The study team analyzed data from 27,700 prospective teacher applications accepted into the 2016–2020 Teach For America (TFA) corps (cohorts). The TFA corps is an alternative teacher… Show more

Teacher shortages in K–12 computer science (CS) education negatively impact students’ access to CS courses, exposure to CS concepts, and interest in CS-related careers. To address CS teacher shortages, this study seeks to understand factors related to expressing a preference to teach CS among prospective teachers. The study team analyzed data from 27,700 prospective teacher applications accepted into the 2016–2020 Teach For America (TFA) corps (cohorts). The TFA corps is an alternative teacher development program that recruits and prepares participants to obtain their teaching certification while they work for at least two years in underserved communities on a temporary teaching license. Study results show that earning at least one postsecondary CS credit and majoring in CS are positively associated with these prospective teachers’ preference to teach CS. Findings indicate that among these accepted TFA applicants, a larger proportion of male applicants and racially minoritized applicants earned a postsecondary CS credit, majored in CS, and preferred to teach CS compared with female applicants and racially non-minoritized applicants. This study lays the foundation for future explorations of whether early exposure to CS could increase prospective teachers’ interest in teaching CS and reduce CS teacher shortages in K-12 settings. Findings from this study can also serve as a precursor to developing policies that result in a CS teacher workforce that is more representative of students enrolled in K-12 public schools. Show less

Three Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone–serving districts formed a researcher–practitioner partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education, the American Institutes for Research®, and BootUp Professional Development to advance the computer science (CS) education of their elementary students in ways that strengthen their Indigenous identities and knowledges. In this paper, we share experiences from 2019 to 2022 with our curriculum development, professional development (PD), and classroom… Show more

Three Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone–serving districts formed a researcher–practitioner partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education, the American Institutes for Research®, and BootUp Professional Development to advance the computer science (CS) education of their elementary students in ways that strengthen their Indigenous identities and knowledges. In this paper, we share experiences from 2019 to 2022 with our curriculum development, professional development (PD), and classroom implementation. The researcher–practitioner partnership developed student and teacher materials to support elementary CS lessons aligned to Wyoming’s CS standards and “Indian Education for All” social studies standards. Indigenous community members served as experts to codesign culturally relevant resources. Teachers explored the curriculum resources during three 4-hour virtual and in-person PD sessions. The sessions were designed to position the teachers as designers of CS projects they eventually implemented in their classrooms. Projects completed by students included simulated interviews with Indigenous heroes and animations of students introducing themselves in their Native languages. Teachers described several positive effects of the Scratch lessons on students, including high engagement, increased confidence, and successful application of several CS concepts. The teachers also provided enthusiastic positive reviews of the ways the CS lessons allowed students to explore their Indigenous identities while preparing to productively use technology in their futures. The Wind River Elementary CS Collaborative is one model for how a researcher–practitioner partnership can utilize diverse forms of expertise, ways of knowing, and Indigenous language to engage in curriculum design, PD, and classroom implementation that supports culturally sustaining CS pedagogies in Indigenous communities. Show less

The computing education (CEd) research community's growth is fueled in part by the growing number of CEd Ph.D. graduates, who are also increasingly entering postdoctoral positions and fellowships. While prior work has shown that postdoctoral researchers have positive effects on research labs, provide essential support to graduate students, and serve critical roles in the research ecosystem, there are no existing support structures for postdoctoral researchers within CEd. As postdocs navigate… Show more

The computing education (CEd) research community's growth is fueled in part by the growing number of CEd Ph.D. graduates, who are also increasingly entering postdoctoral positions and fellowships. While prior work has shown that postdoctoral researchers have positive effects on research labs, provide essential support to graduate students, and serve critical roles in the research ecosystem, there are no existing support structures for postdoctoral researchers within CEd. As postdocs navigate the challenges of their new positions alongside the demands of research and job searches, they would benefit from a community of peers wherein they could share their experiences and learn from others. This Birds-of-a-Feather (BoF) session is an organized space for CEd postdoctoral researchers, including those interested in postdoctoral positions, to build community and share postdoc experiences. Building on prior experience with running a similar BoF space for postdocs in SIGCSE 2022, the BoF discussion leaders is composed of current CEd postdocs, previous CEd postdocs who have taken on academic and research careers, and a CEd researcher from a non-academic space. This combination of diverse experiences, career contexts, and expertise will provide valuable perspectives that will aid in discussions of various postdoc experiences and research and career opportunities. BoF participants will have opportunities to discuss research goals, areas, and activities; exchange advice on navigating career paths and job searches; discuss approaches for mentorship within and outside research labs; and share best practices on the postdoc experience. Show less

Prekindergarten to 12th-grade teachers of computer science (CS) face many challenges, including isolation, limited CS professional development resources, and low levels of CS teaching self-efficacy that could be mitigated through communities of practice (CoPs). This study used survey data from 420 PK–12 CS teacher members of a virtual CoP, CS for All Teachers, to examine the needs of these teachers and how CS teaching self-efficacy, community engagement, and sharing behaviors vary by teachers’… Show more

Prekindergarten to 12th-grade teachers of computer science (CS) face many challenges, including isolation, limited CS professional development resources, and low levels of CS teaching self-efficacy that could be mitigated through communities of practice (CoPs). This study used survey data from 420 PK–12 CS teacher members of a virtual CoP, CS for All Teachers, to examine the needs of these teachers and how CS teaching self-efficacy, community engagement, and sharing behaviors vary by teachers’ instructional experiences and school levels taught. Results show that CS teachers primarily join the CoP to gain high-quality pedagogical, assessment, and instructional resources. The study also found that teachers with more CS teaching experience have higher levels of self-efficacy and are more likely to share resources than teachers with less CS teaching experience. Moreover, teachers who instruct students at higher grade levels (middle and high school) have higher levels of CS teaching self-efficacy than do teachers who instruct lower grade levels (elementary school). These results suggest that CoPs can help CS teachers expand their professional networks, gain more professional development resources, and increase CS teaching self-efficacy by creating personalized experiences that consider teaching experience and grade levels taught when guiding teachers to relevant content. This study lays the foundation for future explorations of how CS education–focused CoPs could support the expansion of CS education in PK–12 schools. Show less

In fall 2019, the National Science Foundation awarded Southern Oregon University a two-year Computer Science for All Researcher Practitioner Partnership grant focused on integrating computational thinking (CT) into the K'5 instruction of general elementary and elementary bilingual teachers. This experience report highlights the process of transitioning one essential component of the project an elementary teacher summer institute (SI) from in-person to online due to COVID-19. This report covers… Show more

In fall 2019, the National Science Foundation awarded Southern Oregon University a two-year Computer Science for All Researcher Practitioner Partnership grant focused on integrating computational thinking (CT) into the K'5 instruction of general elementary and elementary bilingual teachers. This experience report highlights the process of transitioning one essential component of the project an elementary teacher summer institute (SI) from in-person to online due to COVID-19. This report covers the approach the team took to designing the SI to work virtually, the challenges encountered, the experiences of the 15 teachers involved through observations and surveys, and the opportunities for refinement. This report will be of potential interest for other computer science (CS) education researchers who also may be working with elementary teachers to incorporate CS and CT activities into their instruction. Show less

Most low-income students and students of color in the United States do not receive the high-quality, rigorous computer science (CS) instruction needed for success in college and beyond—despite the reality that five of the fastest growing occupations are in the computing field. Moreover, computing-related jobs are among the highest entry-level salaries of any bachelor’s degree. Despite the incredible opportunities presented to students who possess a CS background, less than one-quarter of… Show more

Most low-income students and students of color in the United States do not receive the high-quality, rigorous computer science (CS) instruction needed for success in college and beyond—despite the reality that five of the fastest growing occupations are in the computing field. Moreover, computing-related jobs are among the highest entry-level salaries of any bachelor’s degree. Despite the incredible opportunities presented to students who possess a CS background, less than one-quarter of students nationwide have access to rigorous CS courses. In fact, most students typically learn very basic user skills (e.g. typing, Microsoft Office, etc.) while only a privileged few receive advanced, problem solving based instruction that is necessary for innovation in this generation’s knowledge economy. (doi://10.1145/2800790) Show less

A high ratio of trunk to leg volume showed a strong association to diabetes and mortality that was independent of total and regional fat distributions. This novel body shape measure provides additional information regarding central adiposity and appendicular wasting to better stratify individuals at risk for diabetes and mortality, even among those with normal BMI.

Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are global health problems associated with reduced life span, increased morbidity, and significant financial burdens on individuals and healthcare systems. Each of these disorders has unique body composition and body shape characteristics as it progresses forward. While the biology behind these disorders has made tremendous progress in the last fifty years, the most commonly used methods for estimating the associated body shape and composition have not followed… Show more

Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are global health problems associated with reduced life span, increased morbidity, and significant financial burdens on individuals and healthcare systems. Each of these disorders has unique body composition and body shape characteristics as it progresses forward. While the biology behind these disorders has made tremendous progress in the last fifty years, the most commonly used methods for estimating the associated body shape and composition have not followed the same trajectory.

Besides body mass index and waist circumference, researchers and clinicians have few simple techniques to assess body fat distribution and determine the status for these disorders. While researchers and clinicians recognize the complexity of internal body composition, they still rely on many basic assumptions that oversimplify an individual's body composition. Over the last several years, I have worked on a developing, validating, and applying a set of methods researchers and clinicians can use to quantify body shape and composition accurately and precisely.

The research presented in this dissertation is driven by the hypothesis that specific body shape and composition characteristics can distinguish healthy individuals from those with abnormal metabolic profiles. This dissertation details the unmet need of simple descriptors that capture the complex nature of body shape and composition, presents the theory and development of new imaging techniques that can be used to quantify body shape and composition, and showcases how these new body shape metrics have been used to identify those most likely to have abnormal metabolic profiles. Show less

Muscle wasting is a consequence of many primary conditions including sarcopenia, cachexia, osteoporosis, HIV/AIDS, and chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, there is not a clinically accessible method to measure total body protein, which is the functional mass of muscle.

We sought to derive a simple method to measure total body protein by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioimpedance analysis (BIA).

We retrospectively analyzed a clinical convenience sample of… Show more

Muscle wasting is a consequence of many primary conditions including sarcopenia, cachexia, osteoporosis, HIV/AIDS, and chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, there is not a clinically accessible method to measure total body protein, which is the functional mass of muscle.

We sought to derive a simple method to measure total body protein by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioimpedance analysis (BIA).

We retrospectively analyzed a clinical convenience sample of individuals with numerous metabolic conditions from the Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia, who had a concurrent protein measure by using neutron activation analysis-derived protein (NAA-TBPro), water measure by using BIA, and whole-body DXA scan. The study was split into calibration and validation data sets by using simple random sampling stratified by sex, BMI category, and age decade. We generated a protein estimate direct-calibration protein (DC-TBPro) derived from BIA water, bone mass, and body volume. We compared NAA-TBPro with DC-TBPro and 2 protein estimates from the literature, one that used the DC-TBPro equation with fixed coefficients [4-compartment Lohman method for analysis of total body protein (4CL-TBPro)] and another that used fat-free mass, age, and sex [Wang equation–derived protein (W-TBPro)].

A total of 187 participants [119 women; mean (±SD) age: 37.0 ± 15.4 y; mean (±SD) BMI (in kg/m2) 24.5 ± 7.7] were included. When plotted against NAA-TBPro, DC-TBPro had the highest correlation [coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.87], lowest root mean squared error (RMSE; 0.87 kg), and fewest outliers compared with 4CL-TBPro (R2 = 0.75; RMSE = 1.22 kg) and W-TBPro (R2 = 0.80; RMSE = 1.10 kg).

A simple method to measure total body protein by using a DXA system and BIA unit was developed and compared with NAA as proof of principle. With additional validation, this method could provide a clinically useful way to monitor muscle-wasting conditions. Show less

Total body volume is an important health metric used to measure body density, shape, and multicompartmental body composition but is currently only available through underwater weighing or air displacement plethysmography (ADP). The objective of this investigation was to derive an accurate body volume from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)–reported measures for advanced body composition models. Volunteers received a whole body DXA scan and an ADP measure at baseline (N=25) and 6mo (N=22)… Show more

Total body volume is an important health metric used to measure body density, shape, and multicompartmental body composition but is currently only available through underwater weighing or air displacement plethysmography (ADP). The objective of this investigation was to derive an accurate body volume from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)–reported measures for advanced body composition models. Volunteers received a whole body DXA scan and an ADP measure at baseline (N=25) and 6mo (N=22). Baseline measures were used to calibrate body volume from the reported DXA masses of fat, lean, and bone mineral content. A second population (N=385) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to estimate the test-retest precision of regional (arms, legs, head, and trunk) and total body volumes. Overall, we found that DXA-volume was highly correlated to ADP-volume (R2=0.99). The 6-mo change in total DXA-volume was highly correlated to change in ADP-volume (R2=0.98). The root mean square percent coefficient of variation precision of DXA-volume measures ranged from 1.1% (total) to 3.2% (head). We conclude that the DXA-volume method can measure body volume accurately and precisely, can be used in body composition models, could be an independent health indicator, and is useful as a prospective or retrospective biomarker of body composition. Show less

Background: Total body volume (TBV), with the exclusion of internal air voids, is necessary to quantify body composition in Lohman's 4-compartment (4C) model.

Objective: This investigation sought to derive a novel, TBV measure with the use of only dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) attenuation values for use in Lohman's 4C body composition model.

Design: Pixel-specific masses and volumes were calculated from low- and high-energy attenuation values with the use of first… Show more

Background: Total body volume (TBV), with the exclusion of internal air voids, is necessary to quantify body composition in Lohman's 4-compartment (4C) model.

Objective: This investigation sought to derive a novel, TBV measure with the use of only dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) attenuation values for use in Lohman's 4C body composition model.

Design: Pixel-specific masses and volumes were calculated from low- and high-energy attenuation values with the use of first principle conversions of mass attenuation coefficients. Pixel masses and volumes were summed to derive body mass and total body volume. As proof of concept, 11 participants were recruited to have 4C measures taken: DXA, air-displacement plethysmography (ADP), and total body water (TBW). TBV measures with the use of only DXA (DXA-volume) and ADP-volume measures were compared for each participant. To see how body composition estimates were affected by these 2 methods, we used Lohman's 4C model to quantify percentage fat measures for each participant and compared them with conventional DXA measures.

Results: DXA-volume and ADP-volume measures were highly correlated (R2 = 0.99) and showed no statistically significant bias. Percentage fat by DXA volume was highly correlated with ADP-volume percentage fat measures and DXA software-reported percentage fat measures (R2 = 0.96 and R2 = 0.98, respectively) but were slightly biased.

Conclusions: A novel method to calculate TBV with the use of a clinical DXA system was developed, compared against ADP as proof of principle, and used in Lohman's 4C body composition model. The DXA-volume approach eliminates many of the inherent inaccuracies associated with displacement measures for volume and, if validated in larger groups of participants, would simplify the acquisition of 4C body composition to a single DXA scan and TBW measure. Show less