Tutorial 404: Implementing POGIL in Computer Science Education: A Team-Based Guided Inquiry Approach for High School and College
As computer science education continues to grow, so does the demand for evidence-based teaching practices that promote deeper learning, engagement, and retention. One approach gaining traction is Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), a student-centered pedagogy that uses structured, team-based activities to build both content mastery and essential process skills such as communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. Over the past decade, the CS POGIL community has emerged, with hundreds of educators participating in workshops and contributing to a growing library of CS-specific materials. Survey results from CS instructors/students using POGIL report significant benefits: students are more active in their learning, better retain concepts, and demonstrate improved process skills. However, implementation challenges remain, including time constraints, lack of CS materials, pressure to cover dense content, and resistance from both students and instructors. This in-person tutorial is designed to lower those barriers by offering a hands-on introduction to POGIL in the context of computer science. Participants will experience POGIL from the student perspective, engage in structured reflections, and learn how to facilitate inquiry-based activities in their own classrooms. The tutorial will also provide guidance on adapting existing materials, developing new ones, and navigating common challenges. Whether you’re teaching introductory programming or advanced topics, in high school or college, this session will equip you with practical tools and insights to make your classroom more engaging, collaborative, and effective.