unlocking curiosity through computer science for all students jane margolis cslnet march 16, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Unlocking Curiosity Through Computer Science for All Students
Jane MargolisCSLNet March 16, 2015
Computer science develops critical thinking, problem solving skills, computational thinking so students are not just users of technology – they
learn to become creators of it.
And, it is across all disciplines
Studying the ocean….
Allowing us all to walk….
Hydrowear
Christina Sirbu display at Microsoft Research
Time Lag: CS on the Margins in Schools
California AP CS Participation
• African Americans:8 females, 21 males (2% of APCS)
(AA are 7% of CA students) • Latinos:
49 females and 181 males (9% of APCS) (Latinos make up 52% of CA students)
• All CA students: 659 females; 2442 males
Not Just about Jobs…Civic Engagement
Research Question:
Why are So Few African-American, Latino/a, and Female High School Students Learning Computer Science?
Talking with a neighbor…..
So, what are some explanations for why so few African-American, Latino/as, and females are learning computer science?
STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES(CLASSES, TEACHERS)
BIASED BELIEF SYSTEMS
POLICY
INTERLOCKING FORCES
DISPARITIES IN CS EDUCATION:
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT FALL ALONG RACE AND SOCIOECONOMIC LINES
Technology Rich but Curriculum Poor
Basic Rudimentary Skills
SCHOOLS WITH HIGH NUMBERS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO STUDENTS
IMAGE of CS BOY WONDER ICONS
“BORN TO DO IT” with “INNATE, NATURAL TALENT”
Claimed and Segregated Spaces
“Preparatory Privilege”
TAKING ACTION: District Partnerships
Computer Science Knowledge for ALL students
INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION• Human Computer
Interaction• Problem Solving • Web Design• Programming • Computing and Data Analysis• Robotics
Minimal Spanning Trees and the Quickest Route to Favorite Places
Using Math and Computing for Computer Visualizations
Cornrow braiding Skateboarding
From Ron Eglash’ Culturally Situated Design Tools
Creativity and Dancing Robots
Encourage students to bring in own identity, interests, creativity, and choice into the classroom
ECS Teachers
Professional
Development
Broadening Participation in Computing
2,000+ students each year in LAUSD, 45% enrolled students are girls
Los Angeles ECS and School Enrollment by Ethnicity
Partners are Critical • SCHOOL DISTRICTS• National Science Foundation• Code.Org• Google, Microsoft• CTE, Calif. Dept of Ed• Mayors, Congresspeople• Non-Profits • CSLnet
ECS National Expansion
California ECS• Los Angeles • Orange County• Santa Clara County• Oakland (1)• San Francisco (conversations)• Sacramento (possible upcoming)
“The fatal drowning rate of African American children ages 5 to 14 is almost three times that of white children in the same age range”
(Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2012)
Beverly Hills
South LA
US Olympic Swim Team
All into the Deep End
www.exploringcs.com
Alliance for California Computing Education for Schools and
Students www.Access-CA.org
HELP DEMOCRATIZE COMPUTER SCIENCE IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS!!!