How Do We Do CS on Top of Everything Else? A Coaching Cycle Approach in Elementary School

Rose K. Pozos, Jill Denner, Erin Asamoto, Emily Green, Samuel Severance

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A key strategy for bringing computer science (CS) education to all students is the integration of computational thinking (CT) into core curriculum in elementary school. But teachers want to know how they can do this on top of their existing priorities. In this paper, we describe how our research-practice partnership is working to motivate, prepare, and support an elementary school to integrate equitable and inclusive computer science into core curriculum. Data were collected from teachers at a K-5 school where 65 % of students are Hispanic or Latinx, 46% are English Learners, and 65 % are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Data included semi-structured interviews, educators' written reflections, and observations of classroom implementation and professional development. The findings show how the school is building buy-in and capacity among teachers by using a coaching cycle led by a Teacher on Special Assignment. The cycle of preparation, implementation, and reflection demystifies CS by helping teachers design, test, and revise coherent lesson sequences that integrate CT into their lessons. Contrasting case studies are used to illustrate what teachers learned from the cycle, including the teachers' reasons for the integration, adaptations they made to promote equity, what the teachers noticed about their students engaging in CT, and their next steps. We discuss the strengths and the limitations of this approach to bringing CS for All.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings
EditorsChristina Gardner-McCune, Siobahn Day Grady, Yerika Jimenez, Jean J. Ryoo, Rafi Santo, Jamie Payton
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781665449052
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes
Event2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: May 23 2021May 27 2021

Publication series

Name2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings

Conference

Conference2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period5/23/215/27/21

Keywords

  • computational thinking
  • elementary school
  • equity and inclusion
  • teacher professional development

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Computer Science (miscellaneous)
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Education

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