Supporting Creativity in Black Girls Learning to Code in an After-School Program

• In Event: Creating Equity-Oriented Learning Environments

Abstract

This paper discusses the findings from a 9-week after-school program guided by a culturally responsive computing curriculum, to engage Black girls in computer science while supporting their creativity through developing a novel, useful, and authentic virtual chatbot. The participants gained interest in computer science as they engaged on a project that was relevant to their interests and experiences. Students engaged in creative problem solving as they asked the instructor and their peers for help. The findings in this study reveal the necessity to teach minoritized populations computer science through culturally responsive methods and analysis. The analysis used in this study was Epistemic Network Analysis, which revealed the students’ problem-solving process.

Authors

• Monique Woodard, Wilkes University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sinead Meehan, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Amanda Barany, University of Pennsylvania
  Non-Presenting Author

• Aroutis N. Foster, Drexel University
  Non-Presenting Author