ERIC Number: EJ865943
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Aug
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 19
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0304-3797
Liminal Spaces and Learning Computing
McCartney, Robert; Boustedt, Jonas; Eckerdal, Anna; Mostrom, Jan Erik; Sanders, Kate; Thomas, Lynda; Zander, Carol
European Journal of Engineering Education, v34 n4 p383-391 Aug 2009
"Threshold concepts" are concepts that, among other things, transform the way a student looks at a discipline. Although the term "threshold" might suggest that the transformation occurs at a specific point in time, an "aha" moment, it seems more common (at least in computing) that a longer time period is required. This time period is referred to as the "liminal space". In this paper, we summarise our findings concerning how computing students experience the liminal space and discuss how this might affect teaching. Most of our findings so far relate to software engineering. As it is likely that similar liminal spaces occur in other engineering disciplines, these findings have relevance across engineering education.
Descriptors: Engineering Education, Computer Science Education, Transformative Learning, Scientific Concepts, Learning Theories, Student Characteristics, Emotional Response, Conceptual Tempo, Learning Processes, Interviews, Comparative Education, Cognitive Processes
Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: Sweden; United Kingdom; United States

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