CS Teacher Landscape Calls for Accessible, Equity-focused Professional Development
The Computer Science Teachers Association and the Kapor Center recently published a report entitled "The Computer Science Teacher Landscape: Results of a Nationwide Teacher Survey". Nearly 3,700 PreK-12 CS teachers were surveyed across the nation in the summer of 2020.
The CS research explored the school system, equity, and its impact on students. Below is a quick look at a few of the findings from the CS teachers who responded.
Teachers cited the number one challenge in CS education to be a lack of school buy-in, with the lack of teacher subject knowledge coming in at number three.
Almost two times more teachers in lower income and elementary schools were likely to be affected by insufficient hardware and software.
Only 39% of educators believed in the importance of teaching computing’s role in perpetuating biases related to racism, sexism, and other inequities in the classroom.
24% of teachers believe that a lack of early access to computer science coupled with a lack of support often restricts and deters students historically excluded from pursuing computing fields.
Additionally, the landscape study reported the CS teacher's demographics, educational attainment, professional development engagement, and personal expertise.
Notably 75% of respondents were white and 64% were women, teaching predominantly in high income, urban, and less racially diverse schools.
27% of respondents felt limited by their own subject matter expertise, especially in elementary schools and lower-income schools.
Less than two-thirds of teachers reported participating in a professional learning community to further their personal growth.
30% of respondents graduated with a Computer and Technical Sciences degree and 46% held such a credential.
Percentage of CS Teachers With a Computer & Technical Sciences Credential by Grade Level Taught
The following statement in the report clearly resonates with Couragion's mission.
"Broadening participation in computing will require challenging and transforming preconceived notions of who belongs in computer science and providing support to students to develop a passion to pursue computing pathways."
We believe that early exposure to career connected conversations and diverse role models are key to helping students build an occupational identity in technology pathways. Couragion improves both the awareness and perception in high demand, high growth, and high paying careers for students - while building workforce literacy for educators so that they can be better coaches and advocates for their students.
Recommendations within the landscape report called for accessible, comprehensive, and equity-focused teacher training and professional development that helps recruit, retain and diversify CS teachers. Unsurprisingly, teachers with either a degree or a credential reported higher confidence levels in teaching computing content and concepts. Those who felt limited in their teaching expertise expressed the desire for low-cost CS professional development and peer-to-peer collaboration opportunities.
In 2018 MindSpark + Couragion developed STEMpath, a 24-credit graduate certificate in computer science for educators of any experience level or grade. In fact, 48% of our STEMpath graduates have been elementary school teachers. Equity-centered design thinking, workforce literacy, and an industry externship are key tenets of the professional learning experience. Our overall results in building educator capacity and confidence have been extraordinary. Our graduates consistently share that being a part of MindSpark's peer-to-peer community is one of biggest benefits of participating in the program. The 2022 cohort applications are open now with enticing educator scholarships that also make the program low-cost for educators. Learn more about STEMpath.
"The nation must make long-term investments in the CS teacher workforce to ensure the equitable development of the next generation of computing professionals and informed citizens."
Please reach out to info@couragion.com if you’d like to learn more about working with Couragion this coming school year.
Read the full report here.