Publications

2026

Journal Articles

Professional development responses to digital education barriers in primary schools: A systematic review

V. Ferraioli; M. Bernal-Lecina; V. A. Khalil; M. Vogt; D. Komm et al. 

Teaching and Teacher Education

2026

Vol. 176 .

DOI : 10.1016/j.tate.2026.105512

Swimming with robots: investigating fish locomotion, sensing, and schooling behavior with robotic swimmers

A. Ijspeert; F. Mondada; E. M. Standen; G. Theraulaz 

Nature Communications

2026

DOI : 10.1038/s41467-026-72478-6

Conference Papers

Should we open the Black Box? Investigating Transparency in K-12 Machine Learning Education

V. Ferraioli; L. Lehner 

WiPSCE ’26: Proceedings of the 20th WiPSCE Conference on Primary and Secondary Computing Education Research

2026

20th WiPSCE Conference on Primary and Secondary Computing Education Research, Aachen, Germany, 2026-03-11 – 2026-03-13.

DOI : 10.1145/3801749.3801788

Reflective Dialogue or Prompt Refinement? Effects of Tutor Scaffolding on Students’ Independent LLM Use for Programming

J. Brender; L. El-Hamamsy; K. L. Uittenhove; A. Perez; P. Jermann et al. 

Artificial Intelligence in Education. 27th International Conference, AIED 2026, Seoul, South Korea, June 27–July 3, 2026. Proceedings

2026

27th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2026-06-27 – 2026-07-03.

p. 546 – 561

DOI : 10.1007/978-3-032-29763-1_37

Structured Prompts, Better Outcomes? Exploring the Effects of a Structured Interface with ChatGPT in a Graduate Robotics Course

J. Brender; L. El-Hamamsy; K. Uittenhove; F. Mondada; E. Bumbacher 

Two Decades of TEL. From Lessons Learnt to Challenges Ahead – 20th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, EC-TEL 2025, Proceedings

2026

20th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 2025-09-15 – 2025-09-19.

p. 91 – 106

DOI : 10.1007/978-3-032-03870-8_7

Reframing Computational Thinking for AI Education

V. Ferraioli; F. Mondada; V. Abou-Khalil 

Two Decades of TEL. From Lessons Learnt to Challenges Ahead – 20th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, EC-TEL 2025, Proceedings

2026

20th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 2025-09-15 – 2025-09-19.

p. 168 – 182

DOI : 10.1007/978-3-032-03870-8_12

Working Papers

Closed-loop robotic interactions reveal dynamic social filtering in schooling fish

V. Papaspyros; Y. Barhoumi; R. Escobedo; F. Mondada; C. Sire et al. 

2026

Ultrastructural remodelling of tau fibrils during ghost tangle formation in Alzheimer’s disease brain

D. Stähli; L. Travers; N. Shafiei; L. van den Heuvel; E. Vialaneix et al. 

2026

Posters

More Correcting or Confounding? When an AI Arguing Agent Informed by Common Student Misconceptions Joins Case-Based Peer-Argumentation in a Real Course

J. Brender; A. Pérez; P. Jermann; E. Bumbacher; F. Mondada et al. 

Festival of Learning 2026, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2026-06-27 – 2026-07-03.

2025

Journal Articles

In Memoriam: Prof. Reymond Clavel [RAM Society News]

A. Billard; M. Bouri; M. S. Sakar; J. Paik; A. Ijspeert et al. 

IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine

2025

Vol. 32 , num. 3, p. 213 – 214.

DOI : 10.1109/MRA.2025.3586085

Debugging Assessment Workshop

K. Massé; F. Mondada; A. Piatti 

Constructionism Conference Proceedings

2025

Vol. 8 , p. 553 – 555.

DOI : 10.21240/constr/2025/25.x

FADE-CTP: A Framework for the Analysis and Design of Educational Computational Thinking Problems

G. Adorni; A. Piatti; E. W. Bumbacher; L. Negrini; F. Mondada et al. 

Technology, Knowledge and Learning

2025

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-025-09833-x

The Competent Computational Thinking Test (cCTt): A Valid, Reliable and Gender-Fair Test for Longitudinal CT Studies in Grades 3-6

L. El-Hamamsy; M. Zapata-Caceres; E. Martin-Barroso; F. Mondada; J. D. Zufferey et al. 

TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING

2025

DOI : 10.1007/s10758-024-09777-8

The handwriting programming language for primary school: aligning computer science education with established teaching practices

J. Brender; L. El-Hamamsy; C. Giang; L. Mathex; T. Käser et al. 

Educational Technology Research and Development

2025

DOI : 10.1007/s11423-025-10503-z

Conference Papers

Explicitly Teaching Debugging in Primary School: Effectiveness, Transferability and Durability

N. Tuor; L. El-Hamamsy; M. Chevalier; J. Brender; E. Bumbacher 

Proceedings of the 25th Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research

2025

Koli Calling ’25: 25th Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research, Koli Finland, 2025-11-11 – 2025-11-16.

p. 1 – 12

DOI : 10.1145/3769994.3769999

Reframing Computational Thinking for AI Education

V. Ferraioli; F. Mondada; V. Abou Khalil 

Two Decades of TEL. From Lessons Learnt to Challenges Ahead

2025

20th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham, UK, 2025-09-15 – 2025-09-19.

p. 168 – 182

DOI : 10.1007/978-3-032-03870-8_12

Teachers’ Perspectives on Using and Teaching Artificial Intelligence in Early Primary Education

M. Vogt; V. Ferraioli; V. Abou-Khalil; L. Hollenstein; F. Mondada et al. 

Artificial Intelligence in Education. Posters and Late Breaking Results, Workshops and Tutorials, Industry and Innovation Tracks, Practitioners, Doctoral Consortium, Blue Sky, and WideAIED – 26th International Conference, AIED 2025, Proceedings

2025

26th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, Palermo, Italy, 2025-07-22 – 2025-07-26.

p. 176 – 183

DOI : 10.1007/978-3-031-99267-4_22

Preparing Teachers for an Equitable AI Integration in Education

V. Abou-Khalil; L. Hollenstein; V. Ferraioli; M. Vogt; B. Flanagan et al. 

Artificial Intelligence in Education. Posters and Late Breaking Results, Workshops and Tutorials, Industry and Innovation Tracks, Practitioners, Doctoral Consortium, Blue Sky, and WideAIED – 26th International Conference, AIED 2025, Proceedings

2025

26th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, Palermo, Italy, 2025-07-22 – 2025-07-26.

p. 249 – 254

DOI : 10.1007/978-3-031-99267-4_31

Extending Sensory Capabilities of a Biohybrid System: Prediction of Honeycomb Fill

C. F. Monette; R. Mills; F. Mondada 

2024 12th International Conference on Control, Mechatronics and Automation (ICCMA)

2025

12th International Conference on Control, Mechatronics and Automation, London, UK, 2024-11-11 – 2024-11-13.

p. 142 – 147

DOI : 10.1109/ICCMA63715.2024.10843927

2024

Journal Articles

Development of algorithmic thinking skills in K-12 education: A comparative study of unplugged and digital assessment instruments

G. Adorni; I. Artico; A. Piatti; E. Lutz; L. M. Gambardella et al. 

Computers in Human Behavior Reports

2024

Vol. 15 , p. 100466.

DOI : 10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100466

A Bebras Computational Thinking (ABC-Thinking) program for primary school: Evaluation using the competent computational thinking test

M. Zapata-Caceres; P. Marcelino; L. El-Hamamsy; E. Martin-Barroso 

Education And Information Technologies

2024

DOI : 10.1007/s10639-023-12441-w

Biohybrid Superorganisms—On the Design of a Robotic System for Thermal Interactions With Honeybee Colonies

R. Barmak; D. N. Hofstadler; M. Stefanec; L. Piotet; R. Cherfan et al. 

IEEE Access

2024

Vol. 12 , p. 50849 – 50871.

DOI : 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3385658

Architecture of a decentralised decision support system for futuristic beehives

V. Komasilovs; R. Mills; A. Kviesis; F. Mondada; A. Zacepins 

Biosystems Engineering

2024

Vol. 240 , p. 56 – 61.

DOI : 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2024.02.017

Quantifying the biomimicry gap in biohybrid robot-fish pairs

V. Papaspyros; G. Theraulaz; C. Sire; F. Mondada 

Bioinspiration & Biomimetics

2024

Vol. 19 , num. 4, p. 046020.

DOI : 10.1088/1748-3190/ad577a

Predicting the long-term collective behaviour of fish pairs with deep learning

V. Papaspyros; R. Escobedo; A. Alahi; G. Theraulaz; C. Sire et al. 

Journal of The Royal Society Interface

2024

Vol. 21 , num. 212.

DOI : 10.1098/rsif.2023.0630

Conference Papers

Scaffolding Creative Programming Projects

A. Repenning; S. Grabowski 

ACM International Conference Proceeding Series

2024

19 WiPSCE Conference in Primary and Secondary Computing Education Research, Munich, Germany, 2024-09-16 – 2024-09-18.

DOI : 10.1145/3677619.3677634

Who’s Helping Who? When Students Use ChatGPT to Engage in Practice Lab Sessions

J. Brender; L. El-Hamamsy; F. Mondada; E. W. Bumbacher 

Artificial Intelligence in Education

2024

25th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, AIED 2024, Recife, Brazil, 2024-07-08 – 2024-07-12.

p. 235 – 249

DOI : 10.1007/978-3-031-64302-6_17

A Comparative Analysis of Tools & Task Types for Measuring Computational Problem-Solving

E. Bumbacher; J. Brender; R. L. Davis 

SIGCSE 2024: Proceedings of the 55thACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

2024

ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE 2024), Portland OR USA, March 20-23, 2024.

p. 1 – 1567

DOI : 10.1145/3626253.3635547

2023

Journal Articles

Correction: How are primary school computer science curricular reforms contributing to equity? Impact on student learning, perception of the discipline, and gender gaps (vol 10, 60, 2023)

L. El-Hamamsy; B. Bruno; C. Audrin; M. Chevalier; S. Avry et al. 

International Journal Of Stem Education

2023

Vol. 10 , num. 1, p. 63.

DOI : 10.1186/s40594-023-00456-1

A biohybrid interaction framework for the integration of robots in animal societies

V. Papaspyros; D. Burnier; R. Cherfan; G. Theraulaz; C. Sire et al. 

IEEE Access

2023

p. 1 – 1.

DOI : 10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3290960

A robotic honeycomb for interaction with a honeybee colony

R. Barmak; M. Stefanec; D. N. Hofstadler; L. Piotet; S. Schönwetter-Fuchs-Schistek et al. 

Science Robotics

2023

Vol. 8 , num. 76.

DOI : 10.1126/scirobotics.add7385

A Research-Practice Partnership to Introduce Computer Science in Secondary School: Lessons from a Pilot Program

L. El-Hamamsy; J-P. Pellet; M. Roberts; H. Kovacs; B. Bruno et al. 

ACM Transactions on Computing Education

2023

DOI : 10.1145/3583779

An adapted cascade model to scale primary school digital education curricular reforms and teacher professional development programs

L. El-Hamamsy; E-C. Monnier; S. Avry; F. Chessel-Lazzarotto; G. Liegeois et al. 

Education and Information Technologies

2023

DOI : 10.1007/s10639-023-12043-6

How are primary school computer science curricular reforms contributing to equity? Impact on student learning, perception of the discipline, and gender gaps

L. El-Hamamsy; B. Bruno; C. Audrin; M. Chevalier; S. Avry et al. 

International Journal of STEM Education

2023

Vol. 10 , num. 1.

DOI : 10.1186/s40594-023-00438-3

From teacher to teacher-trainer: A qualitative study exploring factors contributing to a successful train-the-trainer digital education program

E-C. Monnier; S. Avry; L. El-Hamamsy; C. Pulfrey; C. Caneva et al. 

Social Sciences & Humanities Open

2023

Vol. 8 , num. 1, p. 100518.

DOI : 10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100518

Modelling the sustainability of a primary school digital education curricular reform and professional development program

L. El-Hamamsy; E-C. Monnier; S. Avry; M. Chevalier; B. Bruno et al. 

Education and Information Technologies

2023

DOI : 10.1007/s10639-023-11653-4

Theses

Co-constructing an Effective, Sustainable and Scalable Primary School Computer Science Curricular Reform

L. A. El-Hamamsy / Director(s) : F. Mondada; B. Bruno 

Lausanne: EPFL

2023

p. 381.

DOI : 10.5075/epfl-thesis-10348

Challenges and approaches in bridging the biomimicry gap in biohybrid systems of fish and robots

V. Papaspyros / Director(s) : F. Mondada 

Lausanne: EPFL

2023

p. 246.

DOI : 10.5075/epfl-thesis-9728

Datasets

Extended dataset for the validation the competent Computational Thinking test in grades 3-6

L. El-Hamamsy; B. Bruno; J. Dehler Zufferey; F. Mondada 

2023

Dataset for the evaluation of the scalability of a primary school Digital Education curricular reform

L. El-Hamamsy; B. Bruno; J. Dehler Zufferey; F. Mondada 

2023

Dataset for the evaluation of student-level outcomes of a primary school Computer Science curricular reform

L. El-Hamamsy; B. Bruno; J. Dehler Zufferey; F. Mondada 

2023

2022

Journal Articles

Comparing the psychometric properties of two primary school Computational Thinking (CT) assessments for grades 3 and 4: The Beginners’ CT test (BCTt) and the competent CT test (cCTt)

L. El-Hamamsy; M. Zapata-Cáceres; P. Marcelino; B. Bruno; J. Dehler Zufferey et al. 

Frontiers in Psychology

2022

Vol. 13 .

DOI : 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1082659

The TACS Model: Understanding Primary School Teachers’ Adoption of Computer Science Pedagogical Content

L. El-Hamamsy; B. Bruno; S. Avry; F. Chessel-Lazzarotto; J. Dehler Zufferey et al. 

ACM Transactions on Computing Education

2022

DOI : 10.1145/3569587

The role of feedback and guidance as intervention methods to foster computational thinking in educational robotics learning activities for primary school

M. Chevalier; C. Giang; L. El-Hamamsy; E. Bonnet; V. Papaspyros et al. 

Computers & Education

2022

Vol. 180 , p. 104431.

DOI : 10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104431

The CT-cube: A framework for the design and the assessment of computational thinking activities

A. Piatti; G. Adorni; L. El-Hamamsy; L. Negrini; D. Assaf et al. 

Computers in Human Behavior Reports

2022

p. 100166.

DOI : 10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100166

Conference Papers

A case for co-construction with teachers in curricular reform: Introducing computer science in primary school

L. El-Hamamsy; B. Bruno; H. Kovacs; M. Chevalier; J. Dehler Zufferey et al. 

ACE ’22: Australasian Computing Education Conference

2022

Australasian Computing Education Conference, Virtual, February 14-18, 2022.

p. 56 – 65

DOI : 10.1145/3511861.3511883

A study model for reconstructing urban ecological niches

A. Ilgün; R. Mills; F. Mondada; T. Schmickl 

Structures and Architecture A Viable Urban Perspective?

2022

Fifth International Conference on Structures and Architecture (ICSA2022), Aalborg, Denmark, July 6–8, 2022.

p. 75 – 82

Datasets

Dataset to Model the Sustainability of a Primary School Digital Education Curricular Reform and Professional Development Program

L. El-Hamamsy; Emilie-Charlotte Monnier; S. Avry; M. S. D. Chevalier; B. Bruno et al. 

2022

Dataset for the validation of a Computational Thinking test for upper primary school (grades 3-4)

L. El-Hamamsy; M. Zapata-Cáceres; E. M. Barroso; F. Mondada; J. D. Zufferey et al. 

2022

Dataset for the comparison of two Computational Thinking (CT) test for upper primary school (grades 3-4) : the Beginners’ CT test (BCTt) and the competent CT test (cCTt)

L. El-Hamamsy; M. Zapata-Cáceres; P. Marcelino; J. D. Zufferey; B. Bruno et al. 

2022