Reimagining Computer Science with Equity at the Core
Code.org is a nonprofit organization aiming to support and encourage young people around the world to learn to code. Endless supports Code.org as it aims to serve more students through its annual Hour of Code global initiative.
Aiming to inspire the next generation of computer scientists, Code.org and Amazon have announced a partnership to develop a first-of-its-kind Computer Science A (CSA) Java programming curriculum designed with equity at its core.
According to the College Board, Black students who take the Advanced Placement Computer Science A (AP CSA) exam are seven times more likely to study computer science in college. With this in mind, the curriculum addresses the critical need to diversify the technology workforce by engaging more students from underrepresented groups in meaningful CS courses. The program aims to increase student awareness of academic and career pathways in CS as well as equip them with hard skills to be successful in college-level CS and beyond.
The stats are concerning: According to code.org, in 2020, while Black students made up 15% of the U.S. student body, they comprised only 3.5% of AP CSA exam takers — down from 2019. Just 14% of the 70,000 students who took the AP CSA exam were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, and only 25% of students identified as female.
Amazon and Code.org set an ambitious goal: double participation of students from underrepresented groups in AP CSA within five years of curriculum launch.
To make this a reality, the curriculum incorporates equity-focused instructional techniques that engage and support students in building coding skills. The groundbreaking curriculum will:
Consider diverse cultural references and learning styles and incorporate strategies from Culturally Responsive Teaching pedagogy.
Incorporate open-ended real-world projects that enable students to engage in their own passions.
Include narratives from diverse presenters to help students visualize opportunities for their futures.
Develop and model real-world skills like tracing code segments and documenting code, as well as industry-specific skills outside the traditional AP CSA curriculum.
Several stakeholders have already committed to incorporating the new curriculum into their AP Computer Science programs, and many states have pledged to require CS courses in all their high schools in the 2021-22 school year.
Code.org will launch this new curriculum for all schools starting in the 2022–23 school year. Teachers can sign up for professional development workshops to teach the material in 2022. Teachers and others can sign up here to receive news and updates as the curriculum development progresses.
Read the full announcement here.