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Notional Machines

A Curated Collection.

Background Reading

Notional Machines in Computing Education: The Education of Attention
Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education
ITiCSE-WGR '20. June 2020
Explanations of Data Systems Concepts in CS Education: An Updated View on Notional Machines
Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education
ITiCSE-WGR '25. June 2025
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Representation-Based Analogy-Based
Database Representation-Based Database Analogy-Based

Forms of NMs

Analogies Representations Database Representation-Based Database Analogy-Based

What is a Notional Machine?

A notional machine is a pedagogic device to assist the understanding of some aspect of programs or programming. To something along the lines of A notional machine is a pedagogical tool designed to support the understanding of programs, programming, and other aspects of computing such as databases.

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