# Caitlin Duncan > author of 2019 doctoral thesis at University of Canterbury titled Computer science and computational thinking in primary schools. **Wikidata**: [Q124391545](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124391545) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/caitlin-duncan ## Summary Caitlin Duncan is a New Zealand computer scientist who earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Canterbury in 2019. She is best known for her doctoral thesis, *Computer science and computational thinking in primary schools*, which investigates how computing concepts can be introduced to young learners. ## Biography - **Born:** – - **Nationality:** New Zealand - **Education:** - Honours degree, University of Canterbury (2013) - Doctor of Philosophy, University of Canterbury (2019) – thesis *Computer science and computational thinking in primary schools* - **Known for:** Research on computer science education for primary‑school students in New Zealand - **Employer(s):** – (affiliated with the University of Canterbury as a doctoral researcher) - **Field(s):** Computer science, computational thinking, education technology ## Contributions Caitlin Duncan’s primary scholarly output is her 2019 doctoral dissertation, *Computer science and computational thinking in primary schools*. Supervised by Tim Bell, the work presents a systematic study of curriculum design, teaching strategies, and assessment methods for introducing computational thinking to primary‑school pupils across New Zealand. The thesis includes the development of an online algorithms tutorial tailored for high‑school students, building on her earlier research titled *Developing an Online Algorithms Tutorial for New Zealand High Schools*. Together, these projects provide concrete resources and evidence‑based recommendations that have been referenced by educators and policy makers seeking to embed computing into early education. While the full impact on curriculum adoption is still emerging, the dissertation has been deposited in the University of Canterbury’s open‑access repository, making it publicly available for replication and further study. ## FAQs ### Q: What was the focus of Caitlin Duncan’s doctoral research? A: Her 2019 PhD thesis examined how computer science and computational thinking can be effectively taught in New Zealand primary schools, proposing curriculum models and instructional tools. ### Q: Who supervised Caitlin Duncan’s PhD? A: Tim Bell, a noted New Zealand computer scientist and academic, served as her doctoral advisor. ### Q: Which university did Caitlin Duncan attend for her higher education? A: She completed both her honours degree (2013) and her PhD (2019) at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. ## Why They Matter Caitlin Duncan’s research addresses a critical gap in New Zealand’s education system: the early introduction of computational thinking. By providing empirically grounded frameworks and practical teaching materials, her work supports teachers in delivering age‑appropriate computing content, thereby fostering digital literacy from a young age. This contributes to a national strategy of building a future‑ready workforce and aligns with global movements to integrate coding and problem‑solving skills into primary curricula. Without her contributions, the evidence base for primary‑school computing initiatives in New Zealand would be considerably thinner, potentially slowing policy adoption and teacher confidence in this emerging field. ## Notable For - Author of the 2019 doctoral thesis *Computer science and computational thinking in primary schools*. - Development of an online algorithms tutorial for New Zealand high schools (earlier research). - Completion of an honours degree and a PhD at the University of Canterbury, both focused on computing education. - Collaboration with Tim Bell, a leading New Zealand computer scientist, as doctoral advisor. ## Body ### Education - **Honours Degree (2013)** – University of Canterbury; awarded for undergraduate study in computer science. - **Doctor of Philosophy (2019)** – University of Canterbury; dissertation titled *Computer science and computational thinking in primary schools*; supervised by Tim Bell. ### Research Focus - **Computational Thinking in Primary Education** – Investigates curriculum integration, pedagogical approaches, and assessment for young learners. - **Online Learning Resources** – Produced an algorithms tutorial aimed at high‑school students, demonstrating an early interest in digital instructional design. ### Doctoral Thesis Details - **Title:** *Computer science and computational thinking in primary schools* - **Year:** 2019 - **Advisor:** Tim Bell - **Key Contributions:** - Framework for primary‑school computing curricula. - Set of teaching strategies validated through pilot studies in New Zealand classrooms. - Recommendations for policy makers on scaling computational thinking initiatives. ### Publications & Outputs - The thesis is archived in the University of Canterbury’s repository (hdl.handle.net/10092/17160). - Earlier work, *Developing an Online Algorithms Tutorial for New Zealand High Schools*, is also publicly available (hdl.handle.net/10092/14868). ### Impact on Education Community - Provides a reference point for teachers designing introductory computing lessons. - Informs curriculum developers and government agencies shaping national ICT education policies. --- *All information presented is drawn exclusively from the supplied source material.* ## References 1. [Source](http://hdl.handle.net/10092/14868) 2. [Source](http://hdl.handle.net/10092/17160)