Our Research
Our research focuses on identifying effective ways to support parents and children to discover and learn about technology together
Research Aims
For many parents, computing and digital technologies were not a significant part of their education. As a result, they may lack the confidence, knowledge, or experience needed to help their children explore topics such as coding, digital creativity, and artificial intelligence. This is particularly important given the influential role parents play in shaping attitudes toward learning and future career choices.
Build parents' confidence with computing technologies
Encourage curiosity and exploration towards STEAM
Connect local families and build a digital community
Make coding inclusive and accessible to families across Ireland
Research in Action
Everything OurKidsCode does is built around the families we aim to support.
We listen to parents, children, facilitators and community partners to understand what works, what doesn’t, and what could be better. After each programme, feedback and research findings help us refine our workshops, resources and approaches.
This ongoing process helps ensure that our activities remain engaging, accessible, and relevant to the needs of participants.
Working closely with educators and facilitators has also helped us strengthen the programme. Their experience, ideas, and feedback continue to shape the way OurKidsCode is delivered across Ireland.
This work has led to the development of our Design Principles, our Workshop Model, and a range of family activities that have successfully helped parents build confidence and feel more comfortable engaging with technology alongside their children.
2021-2024
Impact Report
Our Impact Report brings together findings from our research and evaluation of OurKidsCode. It explores families’ experiences of learning technology together, changes in confidence and engagement, and what these insights mean for the future of family-based computing.
Parental Attitude Post Workshop
Note: Data based on follow-up survey on parental behaviours and attitudes – 6 months post participation, to end of 2024
Unique Participants
Workshops Delivered
Locations Reached
Facilitators Trained
Participation and Engagement Numbers
Researching with Communities
A key priority for OurKidsCode is ensuring that all families have opportunities to participate, regardless of their location, background or circumstances. To achieve this, we work closely with government and community organisations across Ireland.
STEAM Education
MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL
Examining how family-centred coding initiatives can support the implementation of the new Primary STEM curriculum
Rural & Community Development
DRCDG
Investigating how family STEM programmes can support social inclusion and rural community development objectives through the development of self-sustaining family-led coding clubs.
Digital Accessibility
FIGHTING BLINDNESS
Making coding accessible to families with blind and low-vision children.
Economic Inclusion
SDCP
(South Dublin County Partnership )
Co-designing a programme for families experiencing economic disadvantage.
Migrant Inclusion
NASC MIGRANT RIGHTS
Helping us connect with migrant families in Cork and promote inclusive participation.
Digital Inclusion
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL
Supporting digital skills development and social integration among Ukrainian refugee families.
Research Publications
Journal Articles
Bresnihan, N., Bray, A., Fisher, L., Strong, G., Millwood, R., & Tangney, B. (2021). Parental involvement in computer science education and computing attitudes and behaviours in the home: Model and scale development. ACM Transactions on Computing Education, 21(3), 1–24. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3440890
Book Chapters
Bresnihan, N., Millwood, R., Strong, G., Caldwell, L. (2023) ‘Family Learning in the Context of Computer Science Education’ in Leask M. & Younie S.(eds) Teaching and Learning with Technologies in the Primary School, Routledge Taylor Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003408925
Bresnihan, N., Strong, G., Fisher, L., Millwood, R., & Lynch, Á. (2020). Increasing Parental Involvement in Computer Science Education Through the Design and Development of Family Creative Computing Workshops. In H. C. Lane, S. Zvacek, & J. Uhomoibhi (Eds.), Computer Supported Education (pp. 479–502). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58459-7_23
Peer Reviewed
Conference Papers
Bresnihan, N., Caldwell, L., O’Mahony, M., Millwood, R., & Strong, G. (2026). WIP: Fostering Community Integration Through Family Creative Coding. In 2025 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) (pp. 1-5). IEEE. https://doi-org/10.1109/FIE63693.2025.11328337
Bresnihan, N., Strong, G., Fisher, L., Millwood, R., & Lynch, A. (2019a). OurKidsCode: A National Programme to get Families Involved in CS Education. Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, 298–298. https://doi-org/10.1145/3304221.3325574
Bresnihan, N., Strong, G., Fisher, L., Millwood, R., & Lynch, Á. (2019b). OurKidsCode: Facilitating Families to Be Creative with Computing. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Computer Supported Education, 1, 519–530. https://doi.org/10.5220/0007729405190530
Conference Presentations
Bresnihan, N.; Strong, G.; Fisher, L.; Millwood, R. and Lynch, Á. (2019) ‘OurKidsCode: Family Creative Coding Workshops’, Scratch Conference Europe 2019, Cambridge, UK.
Bresnihan, N.; Strong, G.; Fisher, L.; Millwood, R. and Lynch, Á. (2019) ‘OurKidsCode: Family Creative Coding Workshops’, Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference 2019, Sligo, Ireland.
Invited Talks
Bresnihan, N. & Caldwell, L. OurKidsCode: Developing a Sustainable Family-led STEM-learning Ecosystem for Rural Ireland, E3: Balanced Solutions for a Better World, 27th February 2026, E3, TCD
Bresnihan, N., OurKidsCode: Family Coding Clubs, Research Ireland Forum, Aviva Stadium Dublin, 5th June, 2025, Research Ireland.
Bresnihan, N. OurKidsCode: Parent-led family STEAM clubs, Discover Partners Meeting, Croke Park, Dublin, 5th March, 2025, Research Ireland.
Bresnihan, N., Bray, A., Fisher, L., Strong, G., Millwood, R., & Tangney, B. (2022). ‘Parental involvement in computer science education and computing attitudes and behaviours in the home: Model and scale development’, ACM SIGCSE TS 2022, Providence, Rhode Island, USA,
Bresnihan, N. (2018), ‘OurKidsCode: Family Creative Coding Workshops’, CoderDojo Coolest Projects, RDS, Dublin, Ireland.
