Madeleine Schep

Papers

Total Citations

135

H-Index

About

Madeleine Schep is a computer science education researcher whose work has made a meaningful contribution to the way introductory programming is taught, particularly through the innovative use of robotics as a pedagogical tool. Her most influential research centers on leveraging LEGO Mindstorms robots to introduce students to foundational programming concepts, with a focus on event-driven and concurrent models of computation — an approach that earned her landmark 2002 paper an impressive 92 citations and helped shape a broader curricular movement in CS1 education. Beyond the technical curriculum design, Schep has shown a notable commitment to equity and inclusion in computing education. Her work on using robots in an all-female programming class reflects an understanding that diverse learners benefit from hands-on, engaging instructional methods, and demonstrates her interest in broadening participation in computer science. Her collaborative contributions to the LEGO working group at ITICSE and SIGCSE further underscore her active role in the computing education community, helping to curate and disseminate best practices for robot-based assignments. Altogether, Schep's research offers a compelling model for making introductory programming more accessible, engaging, and effective for a wide range of students.