Research

My research interests are in the areas of computing education, spatial skills, and work-based learning. I am particularly interested in how spatial skills can be used to improve the teaching and learning of computing. I am also interested in spatial skills as a wider STEM development opportunity, how work-based learning can be used to improve the employability of computing students and computing education outside of the typical western education.

Legend

Conference Proceedings

Journal Article

Poster

Workshop

Award Winning

Full-Length Publications

Contextualizing Introductory Computer Science: Insights from African Faculty
Ethel Tshukudu, Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi, Oluwakemi Ola, Sally Hamouda, Linda Marshall, Oluwatoyin Adelakun-Adeyemo, Emma R. Dodoo, G. Ayorkor Korsah, Sandani Luvhengo, Jack Parkinson

CompEd 2025: Proceedings of the ACM Global on Computing Education Conference 2025 Vol 1

2025-10

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3736181.3747146 |
The Impostor Phenomenon in the Global Computing Graduate Student Population
Caroline Pechenik, Angela Zavaleta Bernuy, Selina Marianna Shah, Shirley de Wit, Emmanuel Awuni Kolog, Oscar Karnalim, Mohammed Farghally, Carlos Aníbal Suárez, Jack Parkinson, Leo Porter, Rodrigo Duran, Paul Vrbik, Brian Harrington, Lisa Zhang, Michael Liut, Andrew Petersen

CompEd 2025: Proceedings of the ACM Global on Computing Education Conference 2025 Vol 1

2025-10

DOI: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3736181.3754327 |
A Cross-National Comparison of Computing Students' Sense of Belonging in Ireland and Scotland
Shamima Runa, Fiona McNeill, Jack Parkinson, Catherine Mooney

UKICER '25: Proceedings of the 2025 Conference on UK and Ireland Computing Education Research

2025-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3754508.3754534 |
Considering Spatial Skills Training Methods for Computer Science Students
Miranda C. Parker, Jack Parkinson

ITiCSE 2025: Proceedings of the 30th ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 1

2025-07

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3724363.3729043 |
Improving Primary School Pupils' Spatial Skills Leads to Computational Thinking Gains
Jack Parkinson, Quintin Cutts

ITiCSE 2025: Proceedings of the 30th ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 1

2025-06

DOI: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3724363.3729075 |
Computing Education in African Countries: A Literature Review and Contextualised Learning Materials
Sally Hamouda, Linda Marshall, Kate Sanders, Ethel Tshukudu, Oluwatoyin Adelakun-Adeyemo, Brett A. Becker, Emma R. Dodoo, G. Ayorkor Korsah, Sandani Luvhengo, Oluwakemi Ola, Jack Parkinson, Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi

ITiCSE '24: Proceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 2

2025-01

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3689187.3709606 |
Improving CS Performance by Developing Spatial Skills
Jack Parkinson, Lauren Margulieux

Communications of the ACM, Volume 68, Issue 1

2025-01

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3680409 |
Working Group Proposal: Computing Education in Africa
Sally Hamouda, Linda Marshall, Kate Sanders, Ethel Tshukudu, Oluwatoyin Adelakun-Adeyemo, Brett A. Becker, Emma R. Dodoo, G. Ayorkor Korsah, Sandani Luvhengo, Oluwakemi Ola, Jack Parkinson, Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi

ITiCSE '24: Proceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 2

2024-07

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3649405.3659526 |
Institutional Perspectives on Formal Work-based Learning Programs in the UK
Jack Parkinson, Sebastian Dziallas

SIGCSE '24': Proceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 1

2024-03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3626252.3630879 |
Modeling Women's Elective Choices in Computing
Steven Bradley, Miranda C. Parker, Rukiye Altin, Lecia Barker, Sara Hooshangi, Thom Kunkeler, Ruth G. Lennon, Fiona McNeill, Julià Minguillón, Jack Parkinson, Svetlana Peltsverger, Naaz Sibia

ITiCSE-WGR '23: Proceedings of the 2023 Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

2023-12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3623762.3633497 |
Traditional Vs Non-Traditional Assessment Activities as Learning Indicators of Student Learning: Teacher' Perceptions
Maha Al-Anqoudi, Mireilla Bikanga Ada, Stephen McQuistin, Nikos Ntarmos, Jack Parkinson, Yashar Moshfeghi

2023 IEEE Learning with MOOCS (LWMOOCS)

2023-11

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/LWMOOCS58322.2023.10305928 |
Expanding the Circle of Critical Friends in UK Computing Education Research with the Works-in-Progress (WiP) Workshop
Joseph Maguire, Jack Parkinson, Quintin Cutts, Sally Fincher

UKICER '23: Proceedings of the 5th United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research conference, September 2023

2023-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3610969.3613385 |
Exploring Models and Theories of Spatial Skills in CS through a Multi-National Study
Jack Parkinson, Sebastian Dziallas, Fiona McNeill, James Stephen Williams

ICER '23: Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research V.1

2023-08

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3568813.3600129 |
Understanding Spatial Skills and Encoding Strategies in Student Problem Solving Activities
Jack Parkinson and Quintin Cutts

ICER '23: Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research V.1

2023-08

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3568813.3600134 |
A Methodology for Investigating Women's Module Choices in Computer Science
Steven Bradley, Miranda C. Parker, Rukiye Altin, Lecia Barker, Sara Hooshangi, Samia Kamal, Thom Kunkeler, Ruth G. Lennon, Fiona McNeill, Julià Minguillón, Jack Parkinson, Svetlana Peltsverger, Naaz Sibia

ITiCSE '23: Proceedings of the 2023 Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 2

2023-08

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3587103.3594209 |
Experience Report: Running and Participating in a Multi-Institutional Research in Practice Project Activity (RIPPA)
Jack Parkinson, Sebastian Dziallas, Gary Lewandowski, Fiona Mcneill, Jim Williams, Quintin Cutts

UKICER '22: Proceedings of the 4th United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research conference, September 2022

2022-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3555009.3555014 |
Experience Report: Challenges and Opportunities of Remote Labs for a Computer Science Department
Douglas Fraser, Ethan Hunter, William Kavanagh, Alexandrina Pancheva, Jack Parkinson, Iulia Paun, Tom Wallis, Mireilla Bikanga Ada, Helen Border, Gethin Norman

Postgraduate Pedagogies, Vol. 2, No. 1

2022-06

DOI: https://www.journals.studentengagement.org.uk/index.php/gtateach/article/view/1153 |
Relationships between an Early-Stage Spatial Skills Test and Final CS Degree Outcomes
Jack Parkinson, Quintin Cutts

SIGCSE 2022: Proceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V.1, February 2022

2022-02

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3478431.3499332 |
Practice report: six studies of spatial skills training in introductory computer science
Jack Parkinson, Ryan Bockmon, Quintin Cutts, Michael Liut, Andrew Petersen, Sheryl Sorby

ACM Inroads, Volume 12, Issue 4, December 2021

2021-12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3494574 |
Spatial Skills and Demographic Factors in CS1
Anna Ly, Jack Parkinson, Quintin Cutts, Michael Liut, Andrew Petersen

Koli Calling '21: 21st Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research, November 2021

2021-11

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3488042.3488049 |
Forming Community in Computing Science Education with Research in Practice Project Activities
Quintin Cutts, Joseph Maguire, Sally Fincher, Jack Parkinson

UKICER '21: Proceedings of the 3rd United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research conference, September 2021

2021-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3481282.3481285 |
Relating Spatial Skills and Expression Evaluation
Jack Parkinson, Quintin Cutts, Steve Draper

UKICER '20: United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research conference, September 2020

2020-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3416465.3416473 |
The Effect of a Spatial Skills Training Course in Introductory Computing
Jack Parkinson, Quintin Cutts

ITiCSE '20: Proceedings of the 2020 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, June 2020

2020-06

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3341525.3387413 |
Addressing Mixed Levels of Prior Knowledge by Individualising Learning Pathways in a Degree Apprenticeship Summer School
Derek Somerville, Quintin Cutts, Matthew Barr, Jack Parkinson, Steven Bradley

SIGCSE '20: Proceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, March 2020

2020-03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3328778.3366885 |
Pass Rates in STEM Disciplines Including Computing
Simon, Andrew Luxton-Reilly, Vangel Ajanovski, Eric Fouh, Chris Gonsalvez, Juho Leinonen, Jack Parkinson, Matthew Poole, Neena Thota

ITiCSE '19: Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

2019-12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3304221.3325532 |
Developing a Work-based Software Engineering Degree in Collaboration with Industry
Matthew Barr, Jack Parkinson

UKICER '19: Proceedings of the 1st UK & Ireland Computing Education Research Conference

2019-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3351287.3351292 |
Devising Work-based Learning Curricula with Apprentice Research Software Engineers
Joseph Maguire, Quintin Cutts, Jack Parkinson, Matthew Barr, Derek Somerville

ITiCSE '19: Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

2019-07

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3304221.3325576 |
Experience Report: Thinkathon - Countering an "I Got It Working" Mentality with Pencil-and-Paper Exercises
Quintin Cutts, Matthew Barr, Mireilla Bikanga Ada, Peter Donaldson, Steve Draper, Jack Parkinson, Jeremy Singer, Lovisa Sundin

ITiCSE '19: Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

2019-07

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3304221.3319785 |
Investigating the Relationship Between Spatial Skills and Computer Science
Jack Parkinson, Quintin Cutts

ICER '18: Proceedings of the 2018 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research, August 2018

2018-08

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3230977.3230990 |

Short Papers and Abstracts

Associations between Secondary School Students' Spatial Skills and Teacher Perceptions of CS Engagement and Aptitude
Jack Parkinson

ICER '24: Proceedings of the 2024 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research - Volume 2

2024-08

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3632621.3671426 | Poster | |
Improving Computational Thinking with Spatial Skills Development in Primary School
Jack Parkinson

WiPSCE '23: Proceedings of the 18th WiPSCE Conference on Primary and Secondary Computing Education Research

2023-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3605468.3609780 | Poster |
An Overview of the Relationship between Spatial Skills and Computing Science
Jack Parkinson

UKICER '23: Proceedings of the 5th United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research conference, September 2023

2023-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3610969.3611133 | Poster |
What does Space look like in CS? Mapping out the Relationship between Spatial Skills and CS Aptitude
Jack Parkinson

ICER '22': Proceedings of the 2022 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research - Volume 2

2022-08

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3372782.3407109 | Poster |
Investigating Spatial Skills in Computing Education
Jack Parkinson

UKICER '20: United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research conference, September 2020

2020-09

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3416465.3416475 |
Exploring the Role of Spatial Skills in Computer Science Education
Jack Parkinson

ICER '19: Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research, August 2019

2019-08

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3291279.3339403 |