We designed this online professional development course to provide a flexible, deep learning experience you can complete at your own pace. Course content includes meaningful and interactive activities focused on application to your CS classroom — you’ll do much more than just read and watch. Plus, you will experience asynchronous collaboration with other CS educators as you both give and get feedback and exchange ideas.
 
Registrants will be added to the course on a weekly basis and will not receive the invitation email from Coursera immediately after registering. We appreciate your understanding.

Audience

Grade 5-12 CS Teachers, Administrators, CS Specialists

Length

~8 hours (complete at any pace within the 10-week session; you can enroll anytime before May 31, 2024.)

Learning Objectives

(1) Course Overview, Introduction, and Welcome
  • Investigate disparities, barriers, and challenges that lead to inequities in computer science and limit which students have access to computer science, which students are in computer science classrooms, and which students should be in computer science classrooms.
  • Empower CS educators to enact change by developing strategies and SMART goals action plans to disrupt inequities and set goals to increase participation of marginalized students in CS Classrooms.
  • Identify the importance of diversity in computer science classrooms and the root causes of inequities in computer science education.
  • Examine data and make informed-data-based decisions by creating and implementing a plan to improve enrollment, engagement, and participation in CS classrooms.
(2) Inequities in Computer Science Education
  • Analyze and examine various definitions of educational equity in computer science.
  • Create personal definitions of educational equity in CS that guide learning and advocacy for underrepresented students in CS classrooms.

  • Explore studies on why equity matters in computer science classrooms.
  • Examine systematic and structural barriers that exist in computer science classrooms.
  • Determine barriers of concern. Which ones can you influence or control?
(3) Getting Personable: Examining Data in Your CS Classroom
  • Examine the 2023 State of Computer Science Education Report data-driven methods used to identify and measure equity in computer science.
  • Collect, analyze, and interpret data related to the participation of marginalized groups in CS.
(4) SMART Goals Action Planning
  • Create a SMART Goal Action Plan
(5) Strategies for Targeted Recruitment
  • Explore and create targeted recruitment strategies and resources for marginalized groups of students in your CS classrooms.
(6) Using Your Voice to Drive Change
  • Finalize, publish, and share the My CS Story.

Teacher Standards Alignment

2d. Use data for decision-making to improve equity: Create and implement a plan to improve access, engagement, and full participation in CS using classroom data to inform decision-making.

2a. Examine issues of equity in CS: Examine how systemic barriers and social and psychological factors contribute to inequitable access, engagement, and achievement in CS among marginalized groups. Reflect on how issues of equity manifest in their own CS teaching context.

Winter Session

You will receive full access to the online course for a 10-week term from April 1 to June 16, 2024. You can complete the course by spending about an hour per week or completing it in brief sprints. While we have suggested timing, you may complete it at your own pace.
 
You will receive a signed digital certificate indicating completing 8 hours of professional learning.
 
When the term ends on June 16, 2024, you will no longer be able to progress toward your course assignments and activities, but you will still be able to access course materials.

Cost

  • $79 per participant
  • Free for CSTA+ members – please make sure you’re logged into your CSTA+ account before clicking “Register” ($50 annual membership)

Access for All Teachers

Our goal is to support any K-12 CS educator who wants to take this course in completing it. The course is free for CSTA+ members. If you cannot pay for this course, please email membership@csteachers.org to ask for a scholarship.