Carrie Anne Philbin MBE

About

I am a part-time PhD student at the University of Cambridge, exploring physical computing approaches to teaching computer science at the K-12 level. With over 15 years of experience in STEM and computing education, I am passionate about exploring innovative teaching methods and enhancing learning experiences to include all students. I'm also a part-time Research Assistant supporting the Exploring Physical Computing in Schools (EPICS) project. I am an award-winning educator, author, YouTuber, and podcast host who shares knowledge and enthusiasm for computing and STEM with a global audience of students, parents, and educators. I previously served as the Executive Director of Learning and Advancement at the Institute of Imagination, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering children th

Selected publications

• Philbin, CA., and Sentance, S. 2026. Freedom Isn’t Enough: Constraints Enable Agency in Project-Based Physical Computing. In Proceedings of the 2026 United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER 2026). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 6, 1–7. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3830800.3830809
• Philbin, CA., Durk, J., and Sentance, S., 2026. Adapting the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking for Physical Computing in Primary Schools. In Proceedings of the 20th WiPSCE Conference on Primary and Secondary Computing Education Research (WiPSCE '26). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 38, 1–2. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3801749.3801776
• Philbin, CA., and Sentance, S., 2025. Student Use and Teacher Practice: A Scoping Review of Generative AI in Computing Education Using PICRAT. In Proceedings of the 2025 Conference on UK and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER '25). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 13, 1–7. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3754508.3754513
• Philbin, CA., 2024. Beyond Apps: Tablet and Micro:bit Devices as Tools for Creative Computing in Primary Schools. In Proceedings of the 8th Conference on Computing Education Practice (CEP '24). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 25–28. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3633053.3633054
• Philbin, CA., 2023. Impact of Generative AI on K-12 Students' Perceptions of Computing: A Research Proposal. In Proceedings of the 18th WiPSCE Conference on Primary and Secondary Computing Education Research (WiPSCE '23). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 28, 1–2. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3605468.3609775
• Burnard, P., Lavicza, Z. and Philbin, CA., 2016. Strictly Coding: Connecting Mathematics and Music through Digital Making https://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2016
• Philbin, CA., 2023. Exploring the Potential of Artificial Intelligence Program Generators in Computer Programming Education for Students. ACM Inroads 14, 3 (September 2023), 30–38. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3610406
• Philbin, CA., 2026. Show Your Stripes. Chapter 7 (pp. 58–65), in Hadwen-Bennett, A. & King, H. (Eds.), 2026, (Eco)vocative Objects: Things that Engage with Environmental Issues. King’s College London, London. ISBN: 978-1-908951-66-3
• Burnard, P., Florack, F., Blackwell, AF., Aaron, S. and Philbin, CA., 2017. Learning from live coding Doi: 10.4324/9781315686431
• Philbin, CA., 2014. Adventures In Raspberry Pi.