My research area is computing education. The main goal of my work has been improving the student experience in computing courses and degree programs. I am interested in how the study of computing prior to coming to university impacts students as they continue on their educational careers. I am interested in tools, techniques, and pedagogies to improve the teaching of introductory programming (CS1-CS2). My current work in this area brings in techniques from educational psychology (worked examples and subgoal labeling) into the introductory classroom to improve student understanding of introductory concepts. I have just begun a project that looks at learning for intermediate computing students at the university level. I am interested in issues of assessment and evaluation in computing education in general, and in the introductory courses specifically. I have done work in and continue to be interested in the history of computing, computing education, and computer games.

• Decker, A., Eiselt, K., Payton, J., Barnes, T., and Thiruvathukal, G.K. (Eds.) (2016) Proceedings of the 2016 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT). IEEE, New York, NY, USA.
• Decker, A., Eiselt, K., Alphonce, C., and Tims, J. (Eds.) (2015) Proceedings of the 46th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education. ACM, New York, NY, USA.
• Dougherty, J.D., Nagel, K., Decker, A. and Eiselt, K. (Eds.) (2014) Proceedings of the 45th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education. ACM, New York, NY, USA.

(2017 to Present)

• Decker, A., Egert, C., Cascioli, E. (2020) “Cohorting Incoming Students in a CS1 Course: Experiences and Reflections from the First Year of Implementation”, Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, Accepted – in press.
• Margulieux, L.E., Morrison, B.B., and Decker. A. (2020) “Reducing Withdrawal and Failure Rates in Introductory Programming with Subgoal Labeled Worked Examples”, International Journal of STEM Education, 7:19, 16 pages, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00222-7.
• Morrison, B. B., Margulieux, L. E. & Decker, A. (2020) “The curious case of loops”, Computer Science Education.  30, 28 pages, DOI: 10.1080/08993408.2019.1707544
• Decker. A., and McGill, M.M., (2019) “A Systematic Review Exploring the Differences in Reported Data for Pre-College Educational Activities for Computer Science, Engineering, and other STEM Discipline”, Educational Sciences. 9(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci9020069
• Margulieux, L., Ayer Ketenci, T., and Decker. A. (2019) “Review of Measurements Used in Computing Education Research and Suggestions for Increasing Standardization”, Computer Science Education. 29:1, 49-78, DOI: 10.1080/08993408.2018.1562145. (acceptance rate: 16%, cited by: 13)
• McGill, M.M., Decker, A., and Settle, A. (2016) “Undergraduate students’ perceptions of the impact of pre-college computing activities on choices of major”, ACM Transactions on Computing Education. 16:4, Article 15, 33 pages. (Cited by: 24)

• Phelps, A., Egert, C. A., and Decker. A. (2019) “Splattershmup: A Game of Art & Motion” In K. Schrier (Ed.), Learning, Education & Games: 100 Games to Use in the Classroom. ETC Press.
• Decker, A., Phelps, A., and Egert, C. A. (2017) “Trial by a Many-Colored Flame: A Multi-Disciplinary, Community-Centric Approach to Digital Media and Computing Education” In Fee, S., Holland-Minkley, A. and Lombardi T. (Eds.), New Directions for Computing Education: Embedding Computing Across Disciplines. Springer.
• McGill, M.M., Decker, A. and Settle, A. (2014) “A Framework for Addressing Gender Imbalance in the Game Industry through Outreach” In Prescott, J. and McGurren, J. (Eds.), Gender Considerations and Influence in the Digital Media and Gaming Industry. IGI Global.

(2017 to Present)

• McSkimming, B.M., Decker A. (2021) “Investigating the usage of Likert-style items within Computer Science Education Research Instruments”, Proceedings of the 2021 Frontiers in Education Conference, October 2021, Lincoln, NE, USA, pp. 1-9.
• Xavier, J., McGill, M., Decker, A. (2020) “Designing and Developing a Resource Center for Primary and Secondary Computing Education Researchers”, Proceedings of the 2020 Frontiers in Education Conference, October, 2020, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. 1-9.
• Mackay, S., Decker, A. (2020) “Updating our Understanding of the Impact of Pre-College Computing Experiences on University Students”, Proceedings of the 2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, October, 2020, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. 1-5.
• McGill, M., Decker, A. (2020) “Construction of a Taxonomy for Tools, Languages, and Environments across Computing Education”, Proceedings of the fifteenth annual International Conference on International Computing Education Research (ICER '20), ACM, August, 2020. Dunedin, New Zealand, pp. 124-135. (acceptance rate: 23%)
• McGill, M., Decker, A. (2020) “Tools, Languages, and Environments Used in Primary and Secondary Computing Education”, Proceedings of the 2020 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE '20), ACM, June 17-19, 2020. Trondheim, Norway, pp. 103-109. (acceptance rate: 28%)
• McGill, M., Decker, A. (2020) “A Gap Analysis of Statistical Data Reporting in K-12 Computing Education Research: Recommendations for Improvement”, Proceedings of the 51st SIGCSE Technical Symposium of Computer Science Education, ACM, March 11-14, 2020. Portland, OR, USA, pp. 591-597. (acceptance rate: 31%)
• Upadhyaya, B., McGill, M.M., Decker, A. (2020) “A Longitudinal Analysis of K-12 Computing Education Research in the United States: Implications and Recommendations for Change”, Proceedings of the 51st SIGCSE Technical Symposium of Computer Science Education, ACM, March 11-14, 2020. Portland, OR, USA, pp. 605-611. (acceptance rate: 31%)
• Maxim, B.R., Decker, A., Yackley, J.J.* (2019) “Student Engagement in Active Learning Software Engineering Courses”, Proceedings of the 2019 Frontiers in Education Conference, October 16-19, 2019, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 5 pages.
• Decker, A., Margulieux, L.E., Morrison, B.B. (2019) “Using the SOLO Taxonomy to Understand Subgoal Labels Effect on Problem Solving Processes in CS1”, Proceedings of the fifteenth annual International Conference on International Computing Education Research (ICER '19), ACM, August 12-14, 2019, Toronto, ONT, Canada, pp. 209-217. (acceptance rate: 20%)
• Margulieux, L.E., Morrison, B.B., Decker, A. (2019) “Design and Pilot Testing of Subgoal Labeled Worked Examples for Five Core Concepts in CS1”, Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE '19). ACM, July 15-17, 2019, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, 548-554. (acceptance rate: 27%)
• Decker, A., Margulieux, L. E., & Morrison, B. B. (2019). Using the SOLO Taxonomy to Understand Subgoal Labels Effect in CS1. Proceedings of the fifteenth annual International Conference on International Computing Education Research (ICER '19), August 12-14, 2019, Toronto, Canada, in press (acceptance rate: 20%) 
• Decker, A., McGill, M. (2019) “A Topical Review of Evaluation Instruments for Computing Education”, Proceedings of the 50th SIGCSE Technical Symposium of Computer Science Education, February 27-March 2, 2019, Minneapolis, MN, 558-564. (cited by: 11)
• McGill, M., Decker, A., Haynie, K., and McKlin, T. (2019) “A Gap Analysis of Noncognitive Constructs in Evaluation Instruments Designed for Computing Education”, Proceedings of the 50th SIGCSE Technical Symposium of Computer Science Education, February 27-March 2, 2019, Minneapolis, MN, 706-712.
• Decker, A., Egert, C., and Phelps, A. (2018) “Learning to Create or Creating to Learn”, Proceedings of Meaningful Play 2018, October 11-13, 2018, East Lansing, MI.
• Yackley, J.*, Maxim, B., Brunvand, S., and Decker, A. (2018) “Active Learning and Gamification in Game Design Courses”, Proceedings of Meaningful Play 2018, October 11-13, 2018, East Lansing, MI. 
• Decker, A., Schneider, J. and Margulieux, L. (2018) “How Engineering and Computing Students Demonstrate Critical Thinking During Required Co-op Work Experiences”, Proceedings of the 2018 Frontiers in Education Conference, October 3-6, 2018, San Jose, CA, 8 pages.
• McGill, M., and Decker, A. (2018) “Defining Requirements for a Repository to Meet the Needs of K-12 Computer Science Educators, Researchers, and Evaluators”, Proceedings of the 2018 Frontiers in Education Conference, October 3-6, 2018, San Jose, CA, 9 pages.
• McGill, M., Decker, A., and Abbott, Z.† (2018) “Improving Research and Experience Reports of Pre-College Computing Activities: A Gap Analysis”, Proceedings of the 49th SIGCSE Technical Symposium of Computer Science Education, February 21-24, 2018, Baltimore, MD, pp. 964-969. (cited by: 12)
• Maxim, B., Decker, A., and Brunvand, S. (2017) “Use of Role-Play and Gamification in a Software Project Course”, Proceedings of the 2017 Frontiers in Education Conference, October 28-21, 2017, Indianapolis, IN, 5 pages.
• Decker, A., and McGill, M. (2017) “Pre-College Computing Outreach Research: Towards Improving the Practice”, Proceedings of the 48th SIGCSE Technical Symposium of Computer Science Education, March 8-11, 2017, Seattle, WA, pp. 153-158. (acceptance rate: 30%, cited by: 16)