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The literature on role models lacks a focus on understanding teachers' role modelling from the teachers' own perspective. Our tentative research question is "How do teachers in computing experience being role models for their students?". We use a phenomenographic approach to describe the teachers' experiences of role modelling and their own understanding of the term. Different understandings of role model are shown in a structure of categories, focusing on subject domain, perception of the model by others, and influence from and impact on the context.

This full research paper contains a vocabulary to describe role modeling in engineering education. The term role model is widely used in the literature, particularly in broadening participation. However, it is loosely defined. Both its everyday and academic use varies. This was also observed during our interviews with teachers in the discipline: there was no consensus on what a role model is nor on the meaning of adjectives used to describe a role model. Considering the benefits of role models and the need for terminology that supports a common understanding of role modeling, we have developed a vocabulary around this phenomenon. We aim to support educators by providing them with a means to reflect on different dimensions of role modeling. We define what a role model in engineering is, and what they may model: an aspect (a competency, a character attribute or an attitude) or an achievement. Main actors and types of awareness and intention of the modeling are covered, as well as how the modeling may be perceived by others. We indicate differences and overlaps with terms such as mentor. Finally, we discuss challenges due to subjectiveness: who defines the norm for what an ideal professional in engineering is?

This full paper in the research track presents how individuals in computing education may have role models that represent different ways of engaging in the discipline and/ or profession as a student or a professional. The study is based on two rounds of interview-based data collection at a department of computing: a longitudinal study of undergraduate students' view of the discipline, and an examination of their teachers' experiences as role models in computing education. Our results challenge traditional views of role models as those who set the norms, presenting instead role models as potentially capable of change, at different scales (including none), depending on their level of power. These role models are students, academics, and other professionals. We show that the potential of role models must be understood with respect to how engagement in computing is constructed in social interaction. Actions are suggested for relevant stakeholders to reflect on which role models are receiving more or less exposure than they should and how through these role models participation in computing can be broadened in terms of not only diverse backgrounds but also ways of engaging in computing.

In this paper, we discuss the ethical responsibilities of being a role model as an engineering teacher in higher education. We draw on virtue ethics, care ethics, ethics of freedom and role modeling theory, using Grande's framework for engineering education. We argue that the three ethical theories give different views on the ethics of role modeling as a teacher. Virtue ethics implies that the teacher should behave as virtuously as possible to encourage students to emulate character traits. Care ethics implies that the ethics of role modeling is fundamentally about care practices, emphazising relationships and values such as attentiveness and responsibility. Ethics of freedom urges the teacher to grant individuals opportunities to develop and be free from the control of others. By using role modeling and ethical theory, we aim to show how theory has an impact on both teaching practices and could underpin empirical research in engineering education.

This paper provides insights into role modeling by educators in computing that is beyond the technical, theoretical and rational perspectives which have historically been described as dominant in computing. Surveying 199 educators in higher education, we have built on frameworks of role modeling, care, emotions, and professional competencies as a lens to see different ways of engaging in computing.

Our quantitative and qualitative findings show how educators model ways of caring (for oneself, other humans and living species, technology, and the planet), emotions, professional competencies and other types of role modeling. Examples of contexts within computing and reasons why an educator can(not) model these aspects bring new light to research on care and emotions being shown in computing.

This work contributes to a better understanding of computing educators as potential role models, particularly in terms of displaying emotions and various types of care. Our work can support ways of developing the professional competences of computing educators and the teaching culture of computing departments. Our findings may inspire other educators to think about their own display of emotions and care, and what this transmits to their students. Thus, the work also contributes to the discussion of ways to increase diversity among students and equitable access to computing education.