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About

Ira Diethelm’s research centers on computer science education, with a particular focus on how pupils perceive, understand, and classify digital technologies. Her work is driven by a constructivist approach: she investigates learners’ prior knowledge and mental models of computing systems—such as smartphones, gaming consoles, and robotic vacuum cleaners—to inform more effective teaching. One of her most influential studies (18 citations) explores the questions children naturally ask about computers, the Internet, and digital devices, providing teachers with a direct pathway to boost motivation and learning progress. Another widely cited paper (13 citations) asks pupils to draw the internal workings of everyday technologies, revealing their preconceptions about hardware and system organization. Diethelm’s contributions also include categorizing how students group IT-related terms and classify digital artifacts, offering foundational insights for curriculum design. Early in her career, she pioneered the “Fujaba goes Mindstorms” project, which combined object-oriented modeling with LEGO robotics to create hands-on, motivating learning experiences. Through her sustained focus on student thinking and practical pedagogy, Diethelm has shaped how computer science is taught at the K–12 level, making abstract concepts tangible and learner-centered.