2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Learning Debt in Computing Education

Presented at Computers in Education (CoED): Learning, Engagement & Inclusion (8 of 9) -- W108

Computer Science is a domain characterized by cumulative learning, where subjects and skills build upon foundational, earlier learned skills, much like mathematics or human languages. This is especially true for programming, which is often used as a tool to support hands-on learning in more advanced computer science topics. But what happens when there are gaps in a student’s foundational learning? This paper explores that question, examining the literature in educational philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science, and offers up a new theoretical concept – learning debt – to help capture the cost and effects of that condition and framing it within the growing emphasis on competency models for designing and evaluating curriculum. Finally, drawing from this understanding, we offer curate suggestions for improving student outcomes emerging from the literature.

Authors

Mr. Nathan H Bean http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-1970-1427 Kansas State University [biography]

Dr. Nathan Bean is a Teaching Associate Professor at Kansas State University Department of Computer Science and Co-Director of the Advancing Learning and Teaching in Computer Science (ALT+CS) Lab. His research is focused on the need to grow the body of students skilled in computing – both within the field of Computer Science, and within other disciplines that increasingly rely on the tools computer science makes available to advance their own work. Thus, his research involves investigations into how to effectively reach a broader and more diverse audience of students, and developing pedagogical techniques and technologies that allow it to be done at scale.
Russell Feldhausen http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7236-3933 Kansas State University [biography]

Russell Feldhausen received a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2008, and a master’s degree in computer science in 2018, both from Kansas State University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in computer science with a focus on computer science education, also at K-State. Feldhausen’s research interest is computer science education, targeting rural populations and exploring ways to integrate mastery learning into CS curricula. He is also actively involved in many K-12 outreach programs providing curricula and teacher training throughout Kansas.
Joshua Levi Weese Kansas State University [biography]

Dr. Josh Weese is a Teaching Associate Professor at Kansas State University in the department of Computer Science. Dr. Weese joined K-State as faculty in the Fall of 2017. He has expertise in data science, software engineering, web technologies, computer science education research, and primary and secondary outreach programs. Dr. Weese has been a highly active member in advocating for computer science education in Kansas including PK-12 model standards in 2019 with an implementation guide the following year. Work on CS teacher endorsement standards are also being developed. Dr. Weese has developed, organized and led activities for several outreach programs for K-12 impacting well more than 4,000 students.

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