Youth Perspectives on Tech Power, Ethics, and Culturally Responsive Computing

• In Event: Equity, Inclusion, and Ethics in Engineering and Computing Education

Abstract

Culturally responsive computing (CRC) is theorized as a valuable approach for increasing engagement with computing while centering sociopolitical issues and transformational uses of technology. But what do high school students think? This study centers the perspectives of 39 primarily low-income, Latino/a/x and Black youth from urban and rural public schools to understand what they perceive as the role of technology in our world, and what they desire of computing education. While none have studied CRC, the majority responded with CRC ideas: They see computing as a form of power impacting both good and bad in the world, and want computing education to prepare them to take action on these issues of equity, ethics, social responsibility, and underrepresentation in the field.

Authors

• Jean J. Ryoo, University of California - Los Angeles

• Takeria Blunt, University of California - Los Angeles