Fighting Racism Inside Tech: Illuminating the Knowledge and Pedagogical Actions of Antiracist Secondary School Teachers

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

Abstract

This study describes the knowledge (content and sources) six antiracist Computer Science classroom teachers have about modern techno-racism, where “the racism experienced by people of color is encoded in the technical systems used in our everyday lives” (Nkonde, 2021). This study also shares teachers’ descriptions about related pedagogical actions and their stories of becoming an antiracist CS educator. Findings demonstrate that examples pertaining to AI, facial recognition, criminal justice, and social media were most frequently mentioned. Additionally, the blockchain was described by two teachers as a potential counterexample of techno-racism, and four teachers cited educator communities as a key source of learning. This study can inform antiracist, equity-centered initiatives seeking to respond to the growing need of K-12 CS educators.

Author

• Shaun de Vera, California State University - Sacramento