Culture Matters: How Teachers Support Girls’ Identities in Classrooms in Northern California

• In Event: Engaging BIPOC Youth in STEM

Abstract

This project used Design-Based methodologies to explore the impact of professional development, focusing on Culturally Responsive Computing (CRC), on 11 secondary Computer Science teachers in Northern California. CRC links culturally relevant pedagogy to computing, aiming to enhance students' academic success, cultural competence, and sociopolitical awareness by connecting curriculum to students' cultural backgrounds. It aims to make technology education accessible to diverse groups using asset-building approaches. CRC supports broadening participation efforts, increasing adolescents' access to computing, and enhancing diversity in tech fields, emphasizing the link between STEM and social justice. Findings show that CRC boosts student engagement, addresses diverse learning needs, and improves teachers' access to cultural resources, benefiting ethnic and racial minority girls' education.

Authors

• Aaminah Norris, California State University - Sacramento

• José Ramón Lizárraga, University of Colorado - Boulder