ACM Transactions on Computing Education

ACM Transactions on Computing Education
Title	ACM Transactions on Computing Education
Discipline	Computer science education, Educational technology
Editor	Judy Sheard
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Country	United States
History	2001–present
Frequency	Quarterly
Openaccess	Hybrid
ISSN	1946-6226
EISSN	1946-6226
OCLC	60623449

ACM Transactions on Computing Education. It is a quarterly, peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) focusing on the research and practice of computing education. The journal covers a broad spectrum of topics including pedagogy, curriculum development, educational technology, and assessment within fields like computer science, information technology, and software engineering. It serves as a premier venue for scholars, educators, and practitioners to disseminate high-quality research that advances the teaching and learning of computing disciplines globally.

History and scope

The journal was established in 2001, evolving from earlier ACM education-focused publications to address the growing need for a dedicated, high-quality research forum in computing education. Its scope encompasses empirical studies, theoretical analyses, literature reviews, and experience reports related to learning and teaching computing at all levels, from K–12 education and undergraduate education to graduate school and professional development. Key areas of interest include novel teaching methods, learning sciences applied to computing, diversity and inclusion initiatives such as those for women in computing, and the impact of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence on educational practices. The publication aligns with broader efforts by organizations like the Computer Science Teachers Association and the IEEE Computer Society to strengthen computing education.

Publication details

The journal is published under the auspices of the Association for Computing Machinery and operates on a quarterly schedule. It utilizes a hybrid open-access model, allowing authors to choose between traditional subscription-based access or making their work freely available under an open-access license. Manuscript submission and the entire peer-review process are managed electronically through the ScholarOne manuscript system. All published content is archived in the ACM Digital Library, ensuring permanent access and preservation. The publication follows the editorial standards and practices set by ACM, similar to other prestigious titles in its portfolio like ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction and Communications of the ACM.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed in several major academic databases, which enhances the discoverability and impact of its published research. Key indexing services include the Social Sciences Citation Index, Scopus, ERIC, Compendex, and INSPEC. Coverage in these databases signifies the journal's relevance to interdisciplinary research spanning education, engineering, and social sciences. Its inclusion in the Clarivate Analytics indices also means it receives an annual Journal Impact Factor, a metric used to gauge its influence within the academic community relative to other publications in fields like educational technology and computer science.

Editorial board

The editorial board is led by the editor-in-chief, a position held by Judy Sheard of Monash University. The board comprises distinguished international scholars from institutions such as the University of California, San Diego, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Cambridge. These associate editors and editorial board members bring expertise from diverse sub-disciplines including human–computer interaction, STEM education, and learning analytics. Their collective responsibilities include overseeing the rigorous peer-review process, setting the journal's strategic direction, and ensuring the publication maintains high scholarly standards consistent with those of the Association for Computing Machinery.

Impact and reception

The journal is widely regarded as a leading publication in its field, significantly influencing curriculum development, educational policy, and classroom practice worldwide. Research published within it has informed initiatives by bodies like the National Science Foundation and the College Board, particularly regarding the AP Computer Science Principles course. Its articles are frequently cited in other high-impact journals, including Computers & Education and the Journal of Engineering Education. The journal's impact is further demonstrated through its role in shaping discussions at major conferences such as SIGCSE (the ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education) and ICER (the International Computing Education Research Conference).

Special issues and initiatives

Periodically, the journal publishes special issues focused on pressing or emerging themes within computing education. These have covered topics like cybersecurity education, assessment techniques, and global perspectives on computing curricula. These issues often arise from collaborations with related conferences like ITiCSE (Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education) or in response to community-wide calls to action. Furthermore, the journal supports initiatives that promote replication studies and the publication of negative results to foster a more comprehensive and robust research culture, aligning with broader movements within open science and meta-research.

Category:Computer science education Category:Association for Computing Machinery academic journals Category:English-language journals Category:Publications established in 2001 Category:Quarterly journals