Education

Ph.D.  University of Florida, Educational Technology                                     Dec 2023

Emphasis on CS ed
Minor in Statistics
Advisor: Israel, Maya 

MA University of Florida, Curriculum and Instruction                                     Aug 2017 

Thesis: “Integrated Technology into Chinese Heritage School”
Advisor: Kohnen, Angela Maria

BA Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Elementary Education                            June 2016

Research Experience

Postdoc Researcher, Advisor: Ashish Amresh                                                                2024 - Present
Northern Arizona University

National Science Foundation Project

Investigating the approaches for improving computer science pathways at Native American tribal schools (BSCER)
Develop and submit IRB protocols; Assist project team members in designing and testing culturally relevant curricular materials; Publish the findings in journals and peer-reviewed conferences; Review evaluation metrics and help refine the curriculum based on teacher/student performance data; Support with grant writing tasks to solicit new awards and funding to continue the research; Work with STEM Learning Labs and Centers at NAU to translate the findings from the research and explore collaborations.

Graduate Research Assistant, Advisor: Israel, Maya                                                   2018 to 2023

National Science Foundation Project                                                                                           2022 – 2023

Universal Design for Learning in Computer Science (UDL4CS) Understand the level of meaningful inclusion in elementary CS education; Investigate barriers and catalysts to the inclusion of elementary students with disabilities in CS education; Use video analysis to explore the role of scaffoldings for elementary students. 

US Department of Education.                                                                                                     2020 – 2022

Include Neurodiversity in Foundational and Applied Computational Thinking Explore 3-8th grade
neurodiverse students’ computational thinking in the game-based environment;
Using video analysis to understand students’ problem-solving behaviors in Zoombinis.

National Science Foundation Project                                                                                          2018 - 2022

Learning Trajectories for Everyday Computing: Integrating Computational Thinking
and Elementary Mathematics. Integrating Computational Thinking (CT) into elementary math lessons;
CT lesson teaching; Using Collaborative Computing Observation Instrument (C-COI) to analyze
video screen capture data; analyzing data from CT assessment to understand students’ CT.

Virtual Research Internship

Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund Project                                                                     2019 to 2021

Effective Models for Integrating CT into NYC Elementary Schools project.
Education Development Center | University of Florida | The Research Alliance for New York City schools.
Virtual Research Intern on Effective Models for Integrating Computational Thinking into
NYC Elementary Schools;Assisted with data analysis on a collaborative research project
between the University of Florida and the Education Development Center (EDC),
under the supervision of Maya Israel (UF), Heather Sherwood and Wendy Martin (EDC)
Using qualitative method (cross-case study) to analyze data; Content related to CT integration
in elementary schools. 

Graham Civic Scholar

Bob Graham Center for Public Service                                                                                                          2017
Explored early childhood education services for families in an assigned Florida county
by researching the issues, interviewing stakeholders, and writing reports.  

Teaching Experience

University of Florida

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Educational Technology                                    Aug 2021 – May 2022

Teaching undergraduate courses and facilitating them learning foundational knowledge for
educational technology, such as Photoshop, Video Creation, etc.

Teaching Assistant, K-12 Computer Science Pedagogy                                                   Jan 2021 – Apr 2021

Co-teaching graduate-level courses with the instructor to help in-service teachers to understand pedagogy
for computer science education, which helps them get CS teaching certification

Teaching Assistant, Integrated Technology into Elementary Ed                               Aug 2018 to May 2019

Co-teaching undergraduate-level courses with the instructor in integrating technology into
elementary school.  

Selected K-12 Teaching Experience

Intern Teacher, PK Yonge Developmental Research School                                      Aug 2018 to May 2019

Observed K-5 grade's regular CS teaching.
Studied 4-5th grade teaching methodology 

Language Teacher, Flowers Montessori School Inc                                                       July 2017 to Aug 2018

Created creative teaching activities in the classroom.
Engaged students in interesting Chinese stories.

Mathematics Co-Teacher, Alachua Elementary School                                                Jan 2017 to May 2017

Set up lesson materials, bulletin board displays, and demonstrations.
Created an enjoyable and interesting learning environment for students this semester.
Planned and implemented creative lessons in accordance with district, county, state
and federal guidelines.

Publications

Peer-reviewed and journal paper

Conferences Proceeding

Prescott, P, Hovermill, J., Amresh, A., Yan, W., and Begay, C., 2024. Let’s Talk Code: A flexible professional development and implementation in computer science to expand access to CS in underserved communities. In E. Langran (Ed.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference. Las Vegas, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

Amresh, A., Hovermill, J., Yan, W., and Prescott, P, 2024. Broadening Computing Participation in the Navajo Nation. In Proceedings of the 29th annual ACM conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE, 2024), July 8-10, Milan, Italy, 6 pages.

Yan, W., Hovermill, J., and Prescott, P, Amresh, A.,2024. Teaching Computing in Indigenous Schools: An Early Experience Report. In Proceedings of Research in Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT, 2024) May 16-17, Georgia, GA, USA, ACM, 6 pages.

Yan, W., Bennett, A., Cobo, A., and Israel, M., 2024. A Cross-Case Analysis of Experienced Educators in CS Inclusion. In Proceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 2 (SIGCSE, 2024), March 20–23, 2024, Portland, OR, USA. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 2 pages.

Israel, M., Li, J., Yan, W., Elagha, N., Huggins-Manley, C., Luo, F., and Franklin, D. (2023, August). “How are Elementary Students Demonstrating Understanding of Decomposition within Elementary Mathematics?” In Proceedings of the 19th ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research. 

Luo,F., Yan, W., Liu, R., and Israel, M. “Elementary Students’ Understanding of Variables in
Computational Thinking-Integrated Instruction: A Mixed Methods Study,” Proceedings of ACM,
SIGCSE’22, March 3–5, 2022, Providence, RI, USA. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 7 pages.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3494579

Yan, W., Israel, M., & Liu, T. (2021, August). “Elementary Students’ Debugging Behaviors in a
Game-based Environment,” In Proceedings of the 17th ACM Conference on International Computing
Education Research (pp. 441-442).

Sherwood, H., Yan, W., Liu, R., Fancsali, C., and Pierce. M. A. Israel, M. “Diverse Approaches to
School-wide Computational Thinking Integration at the Elementary Grades: Across-case analysis,"
Proceedings of ACM, SIGCSE ’21, March 13–20, 2021

Luo, F., Israel, M., Liu, R., Yan, W., Gane, B. D., and Hampton, J. “Understanding Students'
Computational Thinking through Cognitive Interviews: A Learning Trajectory-based Analysis,”
Proceedings of ACM, SIGCSE ’20, March 11–14, 2020

Yan, W., Liu, R., Israel, M., Sherwood, H., Fancsali, C., and Pierce. M. A., “School-wide Integration of
Computational Thinking into Elementary Schools: A Cross-case Study,” Proceedings of ACM (SIGCSE),
March 11–14, 2020, ACM ISBN 978-1-4503-6793-6/20/03

Gane, B. D, Elagha, N., Luo, F., Liu, R., Yan, W., Strickland, C., Franklin, D., Rich, K. M., Pellegrino, J.
W., and Israel, M., “Developing Computational Thinking Assessments for Elementary Students --
Connecting Cognition, Observation, and Interpretation,” Proceedings of ICLS 

Manuscripts

Gane, B., Israel, M., Elagha, N., Yan, W., & Pellegrino, J. (2021). Design and validation of
learning-trajectory based assessments for computational thinking in upper elementary grades.
Computer Science Education, 1-25.

Manuscripts in Progress

Yan, W., Hovermill, J., Prescott, P, Hovermill, J., Amresh, A (in progress). Promoting Native American STEM education through Project-based Learning Project-COSTEM. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Yan, W., Chandle, L., Israel, M., (in progress). An in-depth analysis of how elementary students solve sequencing computing activities. Learning, Media, and Technology.

Bennett, A., Cobo., A., Yan,. W., Israel, M., (in progress). A cross-case analysis of special education teachers’ CS teaching. Learning and Instruction.

Yan, W., Israel, M., Liu, T., Understand K-8 students’ debugging behaviors through convergent mixed-method (Under Review). Journal of Interactive Learning Environment.

Yan, W., Luo, F., Israel, M., Liu, R., Exploring Elementary Students' Debugging Behaviors in A Puzzle-based Programming Environment (Review & Resubmission). Journal of Computer Science Education.

Liu, R., Yan, W., Israel, M., (in preparation). The Current Landscape of Computing Education in Elementary Settings: A Systematic Literature Review. 

Israel, M., Lash, T., Yan, W., Luo, F., & Liu, R. (2020). Collaborative Computing Observation
Instrument Research Manual. Creative Technology Research Retrieved from
https://ccoi.education.ufl.edu/assets/files/CCOI_Code_Book.pdf 

Book Chapters

Israel, M., Marino, Yan, W., & Samuels, H. (2022). Using technology to support effective inclusive
elementary schools. In J. McLeskey, F. Spooner, B. Algozzien, & N. L. Waldron (Eds). Handbook of
Effective Inclusive Elementary Schools: Research and Practice (2nd Edition). Routlage.

Israel, M., & Lash, T. (with contributions from Yan, W., Liu, R., & Luo, R). (2020). Universal Design for
Learning in K-12 Programming. In S. Grover (Ed). Computer Science in K-12: An A to Z Handbook on
Teaching Programming. (219-226). Palo Alto, CA: Edfinity.  

Presentations and Invited Lectures

Yan, W., Liu, T., Weisberg, L., Ramírez-Salgado, A., Israel, M. (2024, April) Middle School Students’ Computational Problem-Solving Behaviors In A Game-Based Environment. Paper accepted at the 2024 Conference of American Educational Research Association.

Yan, W., Luo, F., Liu, R., Israel, M., Chandler., L. (2024, April) What Happened to My Codes while I Program in A Puzzle-Based Programming Environment? Paper accepted at the 2024 Conference of American Educational Research Association.

Liu, T., Yan, W., Israel, M., (2023, October) Understand K-8 students’ debugging behaviors through convergent mixed-method. Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). 

Liu, R., Israel, M., Yan, W., (2023, April). The Current Landscape of Computing Education in Elementary Settings: A Systematic Literature Review. Paper accepted at the 2023 Conference of American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

Israel, M., Cobo, A., Yan, W., Liu, R., Chandler, L. (April, 2022). Developing Scaffolding Debugging Strategies to Support Metacognitive During Programming. On session paper at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) national meeting, Virtual.  

Israel, M., Yan, W., Thomas, D. K. (April, 2021). The role of special education teachers in promoting
access to compuer science education: BrowardCODES-for-All. Structured poster session at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) national meeting, Virtual.

Israel, M., Yan, W., Liu, R., Martinez, M., Sherwood, H., Adair, A., Martin, W., & Rivera-Cash, E.
(April, 2021). School-wide integration models of computational thinking in elementary schools:
A cross case analysis. Paper session at the American Educational Research Association (AERA)
national meeting, Virtual.

Israel, M., Yan, W., Liu, R., Sherwood, H., Fancsali, C., and Pierce. M. A. (2021). “School-wide
integration models of computational thinking in elementary schools: A cross case analysis,” AERA

Gane, B. D., Elagha, N., Luo, F., Liu, R., Yan, W., Strickland, C., Franklin, D., Rich, K., Pellegrino, J. W. &
Israel, M. (2020, April). Developing Computational Thinking Assessments From Learning Trajectories:
Design Approach and Preliminary Validity Evidence. Paper Session at 2020 American Educational
Research Association (AERA) annual meeting, San Francisco, CA. http://tinyurl.com/svdtn7j
(Conference Canceled) 

Guest Lecture
“Introduction to Computational Thinking” in EME 4401 Integrated Technology into Elementary
Education. The content introduces computational thinking (CT) for pre-service teachers and organizes
plugged and unplugged activities to help preservice teachers better understand CT integration.

Grant Writing Experience

Collaborated with faculty for grant writing

LTEC 3 (Under review)
2021-2023 Israel, M. (Principal Investigator). National Science Foundation, Computer Science for All. ($299,624).
UDL4CS
2021- 2022 Israel, M. (Principal Investigator). Universal Design for Computer Science Learning:
Partnership for Inclusive Elementary Computer Science Education. ($355,884)

ACM-SIGCSE Special Group Grant
“Exploring Elementary Students’ Independent and Collaborative Computing Behaviors Through
Interrelated Measures: Eye-tracking, Video Analysis, and Artifact-based Interviews” (Declined)
Yan, W., Liu, R., Luo, F., Israel, M.

Professional Service

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)

Participating in searching and integrating culturally responsive pedagogy (CSP), Translanguaging, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) resources into CSTA website.

Peer-Reviewed Articles for

Journal of Research on Technology in Education

University Service

Northern Arizona University

Undergraduate Mentor 2024

Guiding undergraduate students in the research project.

University of Florida

Undergraduate Tutor 2019 – 2022

Guiding undergraduate students in the research project and poster presentation. Assisting international students’ course learning 

K-12 Education Service

PK Yonge Development Research School                                                   2018 – 2022

Teaching Computer science lessons (selected lessons from everyday math) to elementary students; Modeling computer science instruction for preservice teachers in K-5 grade

Computer Skills

Programming
HTML; JavaScript; PHP; MySQL
Applications
General: MS Office; Prezi
Designing: Articulate 360 - Storyline, Rise, Peek;
Adobe CC (Photoshop, Animate, Spark); Canvas
Data Analysis: SPSS; R 

Platforms
Dedoose; WordPress; MAXQDA