New research from the University of Washington shows the brain’s response to viewing errors in both the syntax (form) and semantics (meaning) of code appeared identical to those that occur when fluent readers process sentences on a word-by-word basis, supporting a resemblance between how people learn computer and natural languages.
Tag: Coding
Study Sheds Light on Increased Reports of Suicidal Behavior in Teens
Reports of increasing suicidal behaviors in children in the decade leading up to the COVID pandemic suggest there was already a mental health crisis.
Chulalongkorn University and True Digital Academy Launch “Introduction to Digital Age” Course to Better Prepare Students for Real Life and Work
The General Education Center, Chulalongkorn University, and the True Digital Academy, True Digital Group, have joined hands to develop curriculum, courses and training programs that will enhance knowledge and expertise in Digital Technology for Chula students and the public.
WVU, W.Va. Dept. of Education partnership advances K-12 classrooms computer science classes to among the top in the nation
A strong partnership between the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in STEM Education and the West Virginia Department of Education, along with rigorous statewide computer standards, has accelerated the Mountain State’s number of computer science classes offered in K-12 classrooms by 30% in two years, according to a new national report.

Brookhaven Intern Caroline Sears Analyzes Nuclear Fission Yields
The Smith College undergraduate is analyzing data relevant to nuclear reactor science.
New Software Focuses On Better Targeting Mental Health Resources
Researchers have developed a prototype software system that aims to help policymakers and healthcare providers better address mental health challenges facing Hispanic populations across the United States.

Personal interactions are important drivers of STEM identity in girls
Researchers from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State University found that nuanced interactions between teachers and campers at a coding camp for middle school girls as well as among the girls themselves impacted how girls viewed themselves as coders.
Tech Sector Job Interviews Assess Anxiety, Not Software Skills
The technical interviews used in hiring for many software engineering positions test whether a job candidate has performance anxiety rather than whether the candidate is competent at coding. The interviews may also be used to exclude groups or favor specific job candidates.

Not a ‘math person’? You may be better at learning to code than you think
New research from the University of Washington finds that a natural aptitude for learning languages is a stronger predictor of learning to program than basic math knowledge.

Ethan Coon: Capturing natural processes through math
As a computational hydrologist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Ethan Coon combines his talent for math with his love of coding to solve big science questions about water quality, water availability for energy production, climate change, and the movement of contaminants through watersheds.