Alejandra J. Magana

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About

Alejandra J. Magana is a leading researcher at the intersection of computing education, engineering learning, and human-computer interaction. Her work fundamentally reimagines how students develop computational thinking and technical skills through innovative, technology-mediated approaches. A cornerstone of her contribution is the proposed framework for understanding computational thinking as a "practice of representation," emphasizing representational fluency—the ability to comprehend and transform between different modes of representation. This influential 2016 work has garnered 5 citations and provides a foundational lens for designing and assessing learning in computing. Magana also pioneers the use of immersive technologies for education, as demonstrated by her development of Hack.VR, a virtual reality programming game that teaches object-oriented programming through spatial, node-based interactions. Her research extends into high-stakes professional training, as evidenced by her 2025 scoping review on transforming surgical training with AI techniques for assessment and evaluation (6 citations). Through these diverse yet interconnected contributions, Magana has established herself as a visionary shaping the future of how we learn, represent knowledge, and train professionals using cutting-edge computational and immersive tools.