Cascading Peer Mentoring in High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Computer Science Classrooms (Stage 2, 2:17 PM)

• In Event: e-Lightning Ed-Talk Session 18 - Stage 2

Abstract

Peer-mentoring in Computer Science (CS) education is an effective approach for broadening participation in CS. This pre-/posttest, mixed-methods, multiple case study developed, field-tested, and evaluated a cascading peer mentoring program where college students mentored high school students, who then mentored middle school students, who then mentored elementary school students through a robotics curriculum implemented in K-12 CS classrooms. It includes three mentoring cases of high school, middle school, and elementary CS classrooms involving college, high school, and middle school CS mentors. Guided by the “Five Cs” of Positive Youth Development”—competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring,— this study explored the similarities and differences of college, high school, and middle school CS mentors’ peer mentoring experiences.

Authors

• Elena Novak, Kent State University

• Jason D. Schenker, Kent State University

• Gözde McLaughlin, Kent State University

• Sima Ahmadi, Kent State University

• Yibei Guo, Kent State University

• Rui Liu, Kent State University

• Lisa A. Borgerding, Kent State University