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
Community Listening Sessions
Given the recent discussions across asynchronous platforms this past week, many related to feedback from SIGCSE TS reviews, we have set up two listening sessions for community members to talk about their experiences and perspectives. The listening sessions are an...
Connecting K-5 Students to Integrated Computer Science
We recently partnered with Code.org to conduct a national study that focuses on how K-5 teachers integrated computer science (CS) into their curriculum. Why? Well, Code.org is working on a new and unique CS curriculum called Computer Science Connections. The goal of...
Computer Science Teachers’ Problems of Practice: Solve This!
In 2021 we received funding from a ACM SIGCSE Special Projects Grant, with our colleague Dr. Michelle Friend (University of Nebraska - Omaha) for a project we called: Solve this! Problems of practice teachers face in K-12 CS Education. Since then we have been working...
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
