Blogs (3) >>

This program is tentative and subject to change.

Sat 1 Mar 2025 14:03 - 14:22 at Meeting Rooms 315-316 - Introductory Courses

Undergraduate study of computer science is a common pathway into computing professions; however, attraction and retention of students from underrepresented groups is a long-standing problem. Higher education is in the middle of a well-documented “leaky pipeline,” and the reasons for the dismal diversity statistics in computer science are wide-ranging and reach beyond the college classroom experience. Evidence has shown that Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) results in positive learning outcomes and feelings of belonging and inclusion, leading to stronger retention of students from underrepresented groups. This work details efforts across our department to incorporate three components of CRT into introductory and advanced courses: using diverse assets; encouraging identity connections; and structuring meaning-making. Our objective was to create and implement instructional materials that reflect a range of cultural perspectives, help students to express their unique identities in course activities, and craft opportunities for reflection on learning and connection to one’s lived experience. We provide a repository of resources and discuss in more detail several examples of course materials targeted at these objectives. In addition to general lessons learned, we present survey results showing that students from underrepresented groups in courses using these materials indicated an increased sense of belonging. Their responses showed statistically significant improvement in their belief that computer science could better help them understand themselves, and in considering themselves a “computer science person.”

This program is tentative and subject to change.

Sat 1 Mar

Displayed time zone: Eastern Time (US & Canada) change

13:45 - 15:00
Introductory CoursesPapers at Meeting Rooms 315-316
13:45
18m
Talk
Fostering and Understanding Diverse Interpersonal Connections in a Massive Online CS1 CourseGlobal
Papers
Miranda Li Stanford University, Ali Malik Stanford University, Chris Piech Stanford University
14:03
18m
Talk
Interventions for Increasing Belonging and Inclusion in Undergraduate Computer Science Classrooms
Papers
Elizabeth von Briesen Elon University, Richard Dutton Elon University, Shannon Duvall Elon University, Duke Hutchings Elon University, Ryan Mattfeld Elon University, Scott Spurlock Elon University
14:22
18m
Talk
Reflecting on Practices to Integrate Socially Responsible Computing in Introductory Computer Science CoursesMSI
Papers
Kevin A. Wortman California State University, Fullerton, Aakash Gautam University of Pittsburgh, Sarah Hug Colorado Evaluation & Research Consulting, Paul Salvador Inventado California State University Fullerton, Ayaan M. Kazerouni California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Jane Lehr California Polytechnic State University, Kanika Sood California State University, Fullerton, Zoë Wood California Polytechnic State University
14:41
18m
Talk
Student Perceptions of the Help Resource Landscape
Papers
Shao-Heng Ko Duke University, Kristin Stephens-Martinez Duke University, Matthew Zahn North Carolina State University, Yesenia Velasco Duke University, Lina Battestilli North Carolina State University, Sarah Heckman North Carolina State University