Name: Public defence: Aino Ukkonen
Start: 2026-01-15
End: 2026-01-15
Location: Pilestredet, Pilestredet 46: room PA113 Athene 1

10:00: Trial lecture
12:00: Public defence

The title of the trial lecture is "Teacher Agency when Assessing Computational
Thinking"

The title of the thesis is "Teachers Assessing Computational Thinking. An Analysis Across Contexts".

The ordinary opponents are:

First opponent: Professor Morten Misfeldt, University of Copenhagen
Second opponent: Associate Professor Sanna Erika Försström, University of Stavanger
Leader of the committee: Associate Professor James Gray, OsloMet

The leader of the public defense is Vice Dean for Research Sølvi Mausethagen, Faculty of Education and International Studies.

The main supervisor is Associate Professor Katarina Pajchel, OsloMet. The co-supervisor is Professor Konstantinos Xenofontos, University of Adger.

Thesis abstract

This thesis explores how teachers assess Computational Thinking (CT) in Norway, Finland, and the United States, focusing on teachers' interpretations of CT, their assessment practices, and contextual factors.

Using a multiple case study design with interviews and observations, this research examines CT assessment within subjects, mainly in primary and lower secondary mathematics.

Findings reveal that teachers interpret CT in different ways, especially in relation to programming and mathematics. While challenging for teachers, CT assessment became more manageable when linked to programming. Moreover, teachers experienced tension between curricular goals and exam constraints. Across contexts, they favored observational and interactive methods over formal testing, with these practices remaining consistent despite differing national assessment paradigms.

The thesis also contributes to the field with a conceptual discussion of CT assessment, arguing that CT assessment should be guided by educational values rather than measurability.