Advancing computing, AI, and cybersecurity education through rigorous research
About IACE
At the Institute for Advancing Computing Education, we’re advancing computing education for every student.
IACE (pronounced i-ACE) is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit research institute dedicated to advancing computer science education for all students. We develop and share evidence-based approaches that expand access to CS learning—ensuring opportunities for every learner. This includes studies that focus on girls and boys; students with and without disabilities; those from rural, town, suburban, and urban communities; and many other groups of learners from across the world.
Our Resources
Survey Instruments
Search surveys on self-efficacy, motivation, knowledge, and more in computing education.
Research practices
Read education research guidelines for planning, implementing, and reporting on studies.
Our Services
Learn how we can assist you with research, evaluation, and other studies for your next project.
Our News, Blogs, and Events
Measuring K-5 Teacher Understanding of the CSTA Teacher Standards
Measuring K-5 Teacher Understanding of the CSTA Teacher Standards By Joe Tise, Senior Education Researcher Education is most effective when we use measures that produce reliable data and show evidence of validity. Most people immediately consider measures of student...
Join IACE at the 2026 SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
We're looking forward to sharing our research and learning from others at the SIGCSE Technical Symposium in St. Louis February 18-21, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Technical Symposium (TS) is a fantastic event for being in community with hundreds of researchers and...
A Guide to AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed
Announcing the Release of A Guide to AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed by Dr. Julie M. Smith Dr. Smith is a Senior Education Researcher at the Institute for Advancing Computing Education, where she specializes in computer science and AI education. Most...
What We Offer
Our Services
IACE conducts and supports research to identify evidence-based practices in computer science (CS) and artificial intelligence (AI) education. Our work helps ensure that effective approaches reach all types of learners, including students with disabilities, those in rural communities, and groups traditionally less represented in technology.
Projects
Our Projects
We create, identify, and promote high-quality computing education resources supported by evidence with a variety of partners. Projects range from policy to curriculum design to classroom practices and intervention studies. Highlighted projects include:
Leading development of Guidelines for Responsible Use of AI in STEM Education Research
Exploring the impact of AI pair programming on high school students
Conducting PROACT-CS, a national longitudinal study focused on the impacts of CS education on middle and high school students
Reflections
REFLECTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY
The communication skills of the IACE team are notable–in both direct forms like writing and presenting, of course, but also in shaping broader strategies for impacting practice (say, thinking about formats and venues for dissemination, audience expectations, etc.); Also I would stress the IACE team’s willingness to challenge prevailing methods and claims in STEM DEI practice, thus supporting truly incisive and transformative approaches to stubborn institutional/social conditions. Their creativity in this regard is exceptional.
IACE has become a respected and go-to source for high quality evaluation tools and research expertise. Working with IACE has helped ensure that our work is framed well within the greater academic scholarship to be of use to the research community.
IACE expertise has strongly supported critical evaluation work in a highly visible grant project; the depth and care with which IACE approaches its work has brought much more incisive assessment than would otherwise have been likely.
As a partner IACE is extremely reliable and productive; the people I’ve worked with have increased my own scholarship and they are also just lovely and thoughtful colleagues. I appreciate when we are challenged to think more critically and that the team always centers equity.
IACE is my first stop when looking for research instruments and I often send my students there for training or [conducting] lit reviews.
Our Partners and Collaborators
