Winnie W.Y. Lau

Papers

Total Citations

138

H-Index

About

Winnie W.Y. Lau is a researcher specializing in computing education, with a particular focus on innovative and accessible approaches to teaching programming and engineering concepts. Her most influential work centers on the intersection of wearable computing, fashion, and design as vehicles for engaging students — especially young learners — with technology at an early age. Lau's pioneering research demonstrated that embedding computing education within creative, hands-on contexts like fashion design can help reverse declining enrollment trends in computer science and engineering programs worldwide. Her 2009 paper "Learning Programming through Fashion and Design" has garnered nearly 100 citations across multiple publications, underscoring its significant influence on the field of K-12 and introductory computing education. Complementing this, her work on deploying wearable computing platforms as pedagogical tools — cited 43 times — further established her as a thought leader in using tangible, real-world technologies to make programming more approachable and engaging for introductory students. Together, these contributions reflect Lau's commitment to broadening participation in computing by reimagining how and where students first encounter technology, making her research highly relevant to educators, curriculum designers, and computing outreach advocates alike.