DATE
19 – 22 OCTOBER 2026
LOCATION
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Learnnected: Empowering Education in a Connected World
DATE
19 – 22 OCTOBER 2026
LOCATION
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Learnnected: Empowering Education in a Connected World
The programme is now available.
WCCE 2026
IFIP TC3 World Conference on Computers in Education
Conference Programme • 19–22 October 2026
| DAY 1 - MON OCT 19 | |
|---|---|
| 09:15 – 10:15 | Opening Ceremony (Main Hall) |
| 10:15 – 11:15 | Keynote & Discussion 1 (Main Hall)Speaker: Dr. Joice Benza (Online Stream) Title: 'Socio-Technical Landscapes and the Connected Future of Learning'. Chaired by Professor Don Passey |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | Coffee & Networking Break |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | TRACK A: POLICY, STRATEGY & DIGITAL GOVERNANCE (ROOM 1) |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | AI Policy Implementation at School in International Comparison: Empirical Findings Based on ICILSJan Niemann, Marius Domke, Kerstin Drossel and Birgit Eickelmann |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | Parents’ and Educators’ Attitudes and Concerns about Smartphones in South African High SchoolsDaniel Le Roux and Lana de Jong |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | To Ban or Not to Ban Smartphones and Restrict Digital Access: Ireland’s Policy DilemmaDeirdre Butler and Margaret Leahy |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | The Urban–Rural Digital Divide in School Education: A Secondary Analysis of ICILS Data in an International ComparisonKerstin Drossel, Birgit Eickelmann and Jan Niemann |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | Advances in the Use of Information Technology in School Management over the Years: An Analysis Using Actor-Network TheoryArthur Tatnall and Javier Osorio |
| 11:30 – 13:00 | TRACK B: DIGITAL EQUITY, ACCESS & RURAL EDUCATION (ROOM 2) | Chair: Amina Charania |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | Newly qualified teachers’ preparedness to teach with and through affordable digital technologies in marginalised communities in post-Covid-19Agnes Chigona |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | Empowering Rural Education Through Digital Teaching and Learning Practices: A case in NepalSojen Pradhan, Max Hendriks and Sanjay Lama |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | Educators’ readiness to impart cybersafety skills in connected learning: The case of marginalised schoolsCaroline Magunje and Wallace Chigona |
| 11:30 – 13:15 | Child Identity Fraud in the Era of Connected LearningCynthia Sthembile Ntshangase and Riana Steyn |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Buffet Lunch (Conference Restaurant) |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | TRACK C: CONNECTED LEARNING & PEDAGOGY IN AI ERA (ROOM 1) |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | When Connection Requires Refusal: Technology Back-lash, AI and the Future of Connected LearningJason Zagami |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | AI-Mediated Connected Learning: Pedagogical Design and Teacher Identity FormationJason Zagami |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | AI Literacy and the development of Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the Age of Generative AIMary Webb, Kathryn MacCallum, Jodie Torrington, Deirdre Butler, Chris Shelton, Jihyun Lee, Tanya Linden, Jonathan D. Cohen, Ana Amélia Carvalho, Matt Bower and Fredrik Mørk Røkenes |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | Assessing What Matters in the Age of AI: A Comparative Analysis of Global Competencies in Final-Year Computing Exams in Australia and the United KingdomJackson Clayton, Milorad Cerovac and Therese Keane |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | Toward Adaptive Mathematics Learning Environments: Insights from a Systematic Review of Game-Based Learning and Social RobotsCherry Demir, Therese Keane and Milorad Cerovac |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | TRACK D: TANGIBLE CODING, GAME-BASED & PRIMARY CS (ROOM 2) |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | Coding Without Computers: A Thematic Analysis of Teacher Attitudes Before and After a Tangible Coding Workshop Using the Rangers GameJean Greyling, Andre Calitz and Margaret Cullen |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | Comparing South African primary school teachers’ tangible coding teaching practices across different socio-economic contextsSumaiya Ismail and Machdel Matthee |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | What Makes a Context Work? Teachers’ Perspectives on Everyday-Life References for Computer Science-related Learning in Primary SchoolsFelix Ziemann and Torsten Brinda |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | Parents as Mediating Actors in Primary Computer Science Education: A Systematic Literature ReviewWhitney Hachenberg and Torsten Brinda |
| 14:15 – 16:00 | Media Literacy Education Using Card Games and Its PotentialAtsushi Hikita and Yumiko Ogata |
| 16:00 – 16:15 | Coffee And Networking |
| 16:15 – 17:15 | Guidance for submission of papers for the post-conference proceedings book by the chief editor, Professor Don Passey |
| 17:30 onwards | Welcome reception |
| DAY 2 - TUE OCT 20 | |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Daily Reflections & Announcements (Main Hall) |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | Keynote Speaker (Main Hall)Speaker: Prof. Jean Greyling Title: 'Invention, Collaboration, and Code: Developing Tangible Computing in South Africa' |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Coffee & Networking Break |
| 10:30 – 12:10 | TRACK A: GENAI IN HIGHER EDUCATION (ROOM 1) | Chair: Christophe Reffay |
| 10:30 – 12:10 | The Buck Stops Here: A Human-in-the-Loop Blueprint for Teaching AI-Augmented Research in South AfricaBrenda Scholtz and Lynn Futcher |
| 10:30 – 12:10 | The role of generative artificial intelligence in learning computer programming: students’ perceptions and reflectionsJanet Liebenberg and Marietjie Havenga |
| 10:30 – 12:10 | An Ethnographic Study of a First-Year Information Systems Module in the Age of Generative AIMalcolm Garbutt and Carolien van den Berg |
| 10:30 – 12:10 | Walking the Scene: Embodied Forensic Investigation Through Augmented Reality in a Narrative-Driven PlatformJarred Orfao and Wai Sze Leung |
| 10:30 – 12:10 | When AI becomes a Teammate: Negotiating the Role of Generative AI in Student TeamsLizette Weilbach and Adriana A Steyn |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | TRACK B: EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISIONS & SCALING (ROOM 2) |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | An Investigation into 3rd Year and Honours Projects Supervision Management Practices in South AfricaAndre Calitz and Margaret Cullen |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | The transitioning of third year Information Technology students to an honours programme and beyondRudi Serfontein, Henri van Rensburg, J. Heystek Grobler, Lynette Drevin and Gunther Drevin |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Scaling Laboratory-Based Teaching to Large Venues Without Computers: Efficiency and Impact on Student PerformanceNita Mennega, Hanlie Smuts and Michael Bouwer |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Deterministic Risk Scoring for Connected Early Intervention: An Equity-Driven, Multi-Domain Approach to First-Year Engineering Student Retention in South AfricaAthenkosi Nzala, Unathi September and Malibongwe Manono |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Doctoral Consortium (Room 3)Chaired by Javier Osorio and Wande Daramola |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Doctoral Consortium (Rooms 2 and 3)Chaired by Javier Osorio and Wande Daramola |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Digital to AI Literacy and future capabilities, Curriculum, Assessment: South Africa focus Room 1Chaired by Riana Steyn |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Room 1[Speaker not confirmed] Talk and discussion |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Room 1Madelein Meiring McGraw-Hill Talk and discussion |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Poster & Demo Session (Foyer) |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Exploring Technostress in the Era of Generative Artificial IntelligenceVusumzi Funda |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Integrating AI-powered Chatbots in Informal Digital Learning of EnglishMengqi Fang |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Teaching energy transition in Macaronesia with system dynamics and environmental learningJavier Osorio |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | TRACK C: INFORMATION SYSTEMS & CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION (ROOM 1) |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | From Learner to Educator Student Experiences of Peer-Teaching in an Honours Computer Security ModuleMichael de Jager and Lynette Drevin |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | The Participation-Centered Learning Model (PCLM): A Conceptual Model for Undergraduate Information Security EducationMichael de Jager |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | Reflections from Integrating Cybersecurity Awareness in a Higher Education Institution: A Case Study of a South African UniversityLynn Futcher and Kerry-Lynn Thomson |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | Beyond Access. Learner Cyber-Safety Readiness for Connected LearningGodwin Mandinyenya, Wallace Chigona, Caroline Magunje and Laban Bagui |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | Cybersecurity Challenges and Maturity Considerations for Online and Hybrid Higher Education: A Scoping Review and Socio-Technical MappingNuraan Davids-Latief |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | TRACK D: ENGINEERING, VOCATIONAL & IMMERSIVE TECH (ROOM 2) |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | The application of AI technologies as connected learning enablers in industrial engineering educationJacoba Bührmann and Maria van Zyl-Cillié |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | Making Thinking Visible in AI-Integrated Tertiary Vocational EducationBertram Haskins |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | A Prescriptive Framework for Designing Experiential Learning Interventions in Engineering Education in the Age of AITanya Kok, Maria van Zyl-Cillié and Jacoba Bührmann |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | Artificial Intelligence as a Facilitator of Vocational Science: A Conceptual Framework for Apprentice LearningAnn Baxter, Therese Keane and Stefan Schutt |
| 15:00 – 16:45 | A Comparison of the Use of GenAI Tools by Computer Science Students, Academics Teaching Programming Modules and IT Professionals in IndustryInes Oldenburg, Andre Calitz, Margaret Cullen and Jorge Marx Gomez |
| 16:45 – 17:00 | Coffee And Networking |
| DAY 3 - WED OCT 21 | |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Daily Reflections & Announcements (Main Hall) |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | TRACK A: DISTANCE LEARNING, PLATFORMS & FUTURE SKILLS (ROOM 1) |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | Cognitive load, Immersive Technologies, and Inclusion: A synthesis and framework for Open Distance eLearning in Higher EducationCharlotte Hlengwa |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | From Conceptual Model to Implementation: Evaluating Cross-Module Integration in Undergraduate Computing EducationMichael de Jager, Luke Coetzee and Lance Bunt |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | AI and Human Skills development: Scenario planning of the future of Education 2030Nicholas Mavengere, Toshinori Saito, Francis Manzira, Moses Moyo, Marie Collins, Atsushi Hikita, Daryl Hepting, Maina Muuro and Amit Pariyar |
| 09:15 – 11:00 | TRACK B: INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, ASSESSMENT & GRADING (ROOM 2) |
| 09:15 – 11:00 | Automated Grading and Feedback System for Students’ EssaysKristoffer Hagen, Isah Lawal and Shahnila Rahim |
| 09:15 – 11:00 | Evaluation of a Configurable Processor for LLM-Resistant Embedded Systems AssessmentGerrit Buter, Melvin Ferreira and Ashraf Sheri |
| 09:15 – 11:00 | Comprehensibility over Transparency: How South African Students Evaluate Explanations from an Education Recommender SystemAyanda Ndlovu, Unathi September and Walter Ferreira Uys |
| 09:15 – 11:00 | Evaluating the Quality of Assessment Items Generated by Large Language Models for Large-Scale Educational AssessmentsAdilson Cruz, Isaura Alcina Martins Nobre, Marize Lyra Silva Passos and Mariella Berger |
| 09:15 – 11:00 | Bounded Professional Agency and Generative AI: Teachers Navigating High-Stakes AssessmentCameron Stow, Therese Keane, Alexia Maddox and Craig Deed |
| 10:30 – 11:15 | Coffee And Networking Break |
| 11:15 – 12:00 | Morning Short Paper Presentations (Room 1) |
| 11:15 – 12:00 | Conceptualisation of Early Childhood Teachers’ AI Literacy in AI-Integrated Educational PracticeYuying Pei, Sarah Prestridge, Therese Keane and Susanne Garvis |
| 11:15 – 12:00 | Chromebooks in Public Secondary Schools in India: A Case Study on Language Classroom IntegrationAmina Charania and Sumegh Paltiwale |
| 11:15 – 12:00 | Co-Constructing a Primary Data Literacy Framework: Lessons from Design-Based Research in the (Name of Project)Deirdre Butler, Janez Demšara, John Hurley, Claude Reuter, Ana Fariča, Aoife Flanagan, Anthony Kilcoyne, Borut Čampelj and Blaž Zupan |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | Morning Short Paper Presentations (Room 2) |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | Designing Collaborative Introductory Informatics for Non-STEM Students in the Age of AITakeshi Watanabe and Seiichi Tani |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | Building Teacher Self-Efficacy for Coding and Robotics Through Connected Professional Development: Evidence from a WhatsApp-Based Chatbot Intervention in South African Foundation Phase EducationEmbeth Holly Van der Wal |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | Teaching in the Feed: Authentic Digital Literacy Assessment in AI-Connected Learning EnvironmentsMaree Skillen |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Workshop Room 1 |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | From Tokens to Alignment: Exploring Large Language Models with TINA’s Learning JourneyRalf Romeiki |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Seminar/Panel Room 2 |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Generative AI in Education: Towards Critical, Reflexive, and Ethical Pedagogical PracticeMary Webb & Sharon Singh |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Lunch |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | TRACK C: TEACHER TRAINING, CREATIVE MAKER TOOLS & ROBOTICS (ROOM 1) |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | Preparing Teachers for Teaching Advanced AI: Insights from a Professional Development OfferFranz Jetzinger, Sven Baumer and Tilman Michaeli |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | Students' and Teachers' Use of Generative AI in Computer Science Education in Schools - A Systematic Literature ReviewDominikus Häckel and Torsten Brinda |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | Making the Connected World Tangible: Design Knowledge from a Smart-Home Robotics Lesson Series in Secondary Computing EducationJana Afreen Ahmed and Ralf Romeike |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | Moving from Cognitive Surrender back to Critical Thinking: Training GenAI Chatbots as Socratic Co-FacilitatorsCorna Olivier, Lizette Weilbach and Carina de Villiers |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | TRACK D: Computer science and computational thinking (ROOM 2) |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | Narrativity in Computer Science Education: An Analysis of Bebras TasksMichael Weigend |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | Students’ Readiness for Nested Programming Constructs: A Qualitative Analysis Using the Computational Thinking Test (CTt)Jayanti Nayak, Therese Keane, Milorad Cerovac and Tanya Linden |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | The Impact of Educational Robotics on Computational Thinking Skills among STEM Students: Benefits and Challenges of ImplementationChinedu Okonkwo and Amos Anele |
| 14:15 – 15:45 | From Theory to Practice: Assessing Soft Skills through Continuous Assessment Using the "What, So What, Now What" Reflection FrameworkAdriana Aletta Steyn and Sollie Millard |
| 15:45 – 16:15 | Coffee And Networking |
| 17:30 | Depart For The Conference Bush Dinner |
| DAY 4 - THU OCT 22 | |
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Virtual Reflection & Key Takeaways of the 3 In-Person Days at the Conference (Zoom A) |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | TRACK 1A: VIRTUAL SESSION 1A: PRIMARY/SECONDARY GENDER & TECH EDUCATION (ZOOM A) |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | E-Learning for E-Gov in Post-Conflict Somalia via Learning PassportMohamed Nuh and Mikko Ruohonen |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Gender in AI Literacy Education: A Systematic Review on Girls, Artificial Intelligence Literacy, and Education in the Age of AICody Jackson, Therese Keane and Milorad Cerovac |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Preparing Teachers in the Age of AI: a study with Portuguese traineesAna Amélia Carvalho and Adelina Moura |
| 09:30 – 10:00 | TRACK 1B: VIRTUAL SESSION 1B: HIGHER EDUCATION PLATFORMS & LEARNING DATA (ZOOM B) |
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Operationalizing Digital Competence in Higher Education: A ConstructValidity Study Using Moodle Event DataTsakani Justice Baloyi and Nazeer Joseph |
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Using Blackboard LMS with AI for Classroom Action ResearchWesley Moonsamy, Hugo Lotriet and Hanlie Smuts |
| 10:00 – 10:45 | Coffee And Networking |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | Virtual Short Paper Session — Zoom A |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | From AI Item Generation to Trustworthy Public Assessment: A Human-in-the-Loop Framework for Low-Resource ContextsLouisa Muparuri |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | Exploring Student Narratives of Generative AI Use in Academic Writing: Tensions Between Academic Integrity, Agency, and IdentityUchita Bakshani |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | Using a Wiki to Connect and Engage StudentsDaryl Hepting, Swe Zin Ei and Julia Hu |
| 10:30 – 12:30 | Doctoral ConsortiumChaired by Javier Osorio and Wande Daramola — Zoom B |
| 11:45 – 12:30 | Virtual Keynote Recording Viewing: Keynote highlights of Dr. Joice Benza/ Prof. Jean GreylingZoom A |
| 12:30 – 13:00 | Live Q&A and Discussion with the Keynote Speaker (Zoom A) |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Virtual Afternoon Lunch/Coffee & Hybrid AGM Break (3.3 & 3.9) Zoom A and Zoom B |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | TRACK 2A: VIRTUAL SESSION 2A: COMPETENCY PATHWAYS, TEACHERS & PRACTICE SCALING (ZOOM A) |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Explicating AI Systems as Curricular Objects of Reference: Deriving the Computing Dimension of Teachers’ AI Competence Across SubjectsUwe Lorenz |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Gender Differences in Adolescent Students' Interactions with Project-Based Learning with TechnologyVinay Lautre, Amina Charania and Sandeep Wadhe |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Competency-Aligned Learning Pathways for AI in Secondary Computer Science EducationStefan Pasterk, Corinna Mößlacher and Andreas Bollin |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Recommendations for Scaling, Modification and Sustainability of Video based or Similar Programmes in Government-Run Middle and Secondary Schools in IndiaAmina Charania, Durba Sarkar, Jayanth Nadheri and Bushra Parveen |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | TRACK 2B: VIRTUAL SESSION 2B: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, INFORMATION TRUST & ROLE SHIFTS (ZOOM B) |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | A Consideration of Local Echo Chambers in Information Trust Evaluation: Through a Case Analysis of Literacy EducationSayaka Tohyama and Jun Ichikawa |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Ensuring Academic Integrity in the Age of Voice Cloning: Evaluating Verbal Verification for Micro-credentials.Oyena Mahlasela and Riana Steyn |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | From Displacement to Evolution: Unbundling the Educator Role under AI-Enabled LearningGabriel Hoffman and Adheesh Budree |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Official Conference Closing CeremonyProgramme co-chairs and team, Local chair and team, TC3 chairs |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Coffee And Networking |
Full paper presentation duration: 15 Minutes
Short paper presentation duration: 10 Minutes
Get in touch
Conference Organisers
Phone: +27(0) 82 770 3855
Email: wcce@africamassive.co.za