#Mastery Chat Questions for Thursday, March 5th, 2020
Topic: Diversifying tech starts with you: Going beyond “just coding” in every classroom
Moderator: Jennifer Manly (@Jennifer_Manly)
Questions
(8:00 ET) Intro/Welcome: Welcome to #masterychat. Introduce yourself and let us know where you’re from and what you teach.
(8:05 ET) Q1 A lot of emphasis is placed on teaching coding in the classroom, but CS goes way beyond what students can build on a computer. Without including the words “coding” or “programming,” how would you define computer science? #MasteryChat #csforall
(8:10 ET) Q2 According to @ncwit, 25% of the computing workforce is women, with Hispanic women making up ~2% and Black women making up ~3%. Black and Hispanic men are also underrepresented in computing. What impacts does a less diverse tech workforce have? #csforall #MasteryChat
(8:20 ET) Q3 The research consistently shows that the earlier a student is exposed to computer science, the more likely they are to pursue it as a career… which means teachers can help improve diversity in tech! What are some reasons a student should pursue CS? #csforall #MasteryChat
(8:30 ET) Q4 An algorithm is a step by step way to solve a problem, and is foundational to the study of computer science. Computational thinking is included in the NGSS. Tell us about a lesson you love that could incorporate algorithmic or computational thinking. #MasteryChat #csforall
(8:40 ET) Q5 An argument against incorporating CS in other classes is that not every student is interested in computer science. What skills or qualities does algorithmic or computational thinking build? How might these skills transfer to other careers or subjects? #MasteryChat #csforall
(8:45 ET) Q6 When you think of incorporating computer science in your classroom, what hesitations come up? What resources or support do you need to move forward? #csforall #MasteryChat
(8:50 ET) Q7 Each of us has a part to play in giving every student the opportunity to explore whether CS might be a good fit for them. What is one actionable commitment you can make in your own teaching to help close the gender and racial gap in tech? #MasteryChat #csforall
