VSTE Annual Conference 2020

All students need the opportunity to learn computer science (CS) to enable them to become creators, not just consumers, of the next wave of discoveries, solutions, and innovations. The growing importance of CS education was affirmed in Virginia in 2017, when the Department of Education adopted K-12 Computer Science Standards of Learning (VA K-12 CS SOL) that were expected to be integrated into K-12 education across the state beginning in the 2019/2020 school year.

However, we know that CS education is facing some challenges. One challenge is that K-8 teachers do not receive much in the way of preparation to teach CS through their formal education. Another challenge is that interest in and knowledge of CS is still relatively low for students who identify as female, Black, and/or Latinx. A positive experience with CS education in K-8 can go a long way toward bridging that gap while a negative experience builds more barriers.

The goal of this workshop is to help K-8 teachers incorporate equitable computer science (CS) strategies into their instruction. Participants will become aware of typical biases that can emerge when teaching CS so they develop understanding and are able to apply strategies to increase participation and interest in CS for all students. The great thing about these strategies is that they really help both teachers and students to have a more positive experience in CS and in STEM fields overall!

Dr. Jennifer Chiu, Associate Professor at the University of Virginia School of Education and Kim Wilkens, Tech-Girls Founder and EdD candidate at UVA will share research-based equitable CS teaching strategies.