From Servers to Satellites: Understanding Internet Principles among New Computer Science Teachers

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68081740%3A_____%2F25%3A00603807" target="_blank" >RIV/68081740:_____/25:00603807 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3709150" target="_blank" >https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3709150</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3709150" target="_blank" >10.1145/3709150</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

From Servers to Satellites: Understanding Internet Principles among New Computer Science Teachers

Original language description

Objectives Limited research exists on how new computer science (CS) teachers understand fundamental internet principles. This knowledge gap hinders the development of effective upskilling courses, especially as new CS curricula are being introduced worldwide. This study investigates new CS teachers’ conceptions of fundamental internet principles, compares them with children’s understanding, and examines the relationship between teachers’ internet knowledge and their knowledge of basic digital trace topics. Study Methods A convergent mixed-methods approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews and drawing tasks with 50 new CS teachers. Data from a separate sample of 165 children (Grades 4, 6, 8) was included for comparison. A thematic analysis and frequency analysis of interview transcripts were conducted. Findings Most new CS teachers recognized the internet as a global network but had varied and often unstable conceptions about data storage and transfer. Compared to children, teachers demonstrated a more advanced understanding but still exhibited substantial knowledge gaps. There was no significant correlation between understanding internet principles and basic digital trace topics, though a moderate relationship was found regarding news feed personalization. Conclusions The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve new CS teachers’ understanding of internet principles, especially the invisible aspects, such as data storage and transfer mechanisms. By providing new data on a rarely studied group, this study contributes to both CS education and broader fields like developmental psychology and conceptual change, offering insights into the developmental trajectories of internet comprehension and the integration of everyday and scientific knowledge.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50101 - Psychology (including human - machine relations)

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

ACM Transactions on Computing Education

ISSN

1946-6226

e-ISSN

1946-6226

Volume of the periodical

25

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

33

Pages from-to

4

UT code for WoS article

001464381300004

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105003104212