From Overwhelmed to Empowered: How Professional Development in Culturally Relevant Computer Science Lifts Up Public School Teachers

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 9:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Equity in STEM+CS

Abstract

This study examines the impact of professional development (PD) workshops in culturally relevant Computer Science (CS) on K–12 teachers’ knowledge and beliefs about equitable CS instruction. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, 59 in-service teachers participated in three-day PD workshops focused on integrating culturally relevant pedagogy with CS content. Results showed statistically significant gains in teachers’ self-reported knowledge and belief perceptions across key instructional areas, regardless of prior teaching experience. Notably, novice teachers reported the greatest relative growth. Findings suggest that PD in culturally relevant CS is both accessible and effective in preparing educators to teach CS in culturally responsive ways. This study highlights culturally relevant CS as a promising approach for supporting equity-driven innovation in CS education and teacher professional learning.

Authors

• Daniel L. Hoffman, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

• Seungoh Paek, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

• Peter Leong, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

• Rochelle Piʻilani Kaaloa, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa