Iteratively building and testing machine learning models can help children develop creativity, flexibility, comfort with artificial intelligence. We explore how use teaching interfaces a team of 14 (aged 7-13 years) adult co-designers. Children trained image classifiers tested each other's for robustness. Our study illuminates reason about ML concepts, offering these insights designing experiences children: (i) metrics (e.g. confidence scores) should be visible experimentation; (ii)...

While several introductory computer science curricula exist for children in K-8, there are few options that go beyond sequence, loops, and basic conditionals. The goal of this project is to not only fill gap with a high-quality curriculum supported by complete instructional materials, but also do so an equity-balanced curriculum. That is, values advancing equity equally student learning outcomes. In paper, we introduce barriers public school classrooms, pedagogical approaches...

As computer science instruction gets offered to more young learners, transitioning from elective requirement, it is important explore the relationship between pedagogical approach and student behavior. While different approaches have particular motivations intended goals, little known about what degree they satisfy those goals.

Abstract As professional science becomes increasingly computational, researchers and educators are advocating for the integration of computational thinking (CT) into education. Researchers policymakers have argued that CT learning opportunities should begin in elementary school span across K‐12 grades. While specified how students engage learning, success ultimately depends on teachers implement their lessons. This new demand who can integrate has created a need effective conceptual tools...

Participatory design is an essential strategy for creating artifacts and experiences that reflect the voices of population being designed with. The participatory process can serve not only to research resulting but also as empowering activity those who participate. This paper explores how a context young participants enact voice their emerging identities reveals different activities have unique affordances supporting this identity enactment. Focusing on group 12 13-year-old African American...

In response to the growing call bring powerful ideas of computer science all learners, education decision makers, including teachers and administrators, are tasked with making consequential decisions on what curricula use. Often, these makers have not been trained in unfamiliar concepts taught tools used. This is especially true K–12 contexts where expertise less prevalent. To aid decision-making process around computing curricula, this article introduces TEC Rubric. The Rubric composed...

Computational thinking (CT) is playing an increasingly relevant role within disciplinary teaching in elementary school, particularly science. However, many teachers are unfamiliar with CT, either because their education occurred before the popularization of CT or instruction was not included pre-service coursework. For these teachers, professional development (PD) becomes a primary mechanism to close knowledge gap. While PD has demonstrated success at increasing teacher's understanding,...

North Salem Central School District (North Salem) has worked with researchers as part of a larger Research Practice Partnership (RPP) to design and implement an inclusive PK-12 computing pathway in their district. This poster describes how teachers used Generative AI (GenAI) tools three areas: (1) the development sample computational thinking (CT) lesson plans; (2) initial brainstorming; (3) professional learning.

Reflection is essential for learning and development, especially among middle school students. In this paper, we describe how students can engage in reflective by composing digital stories a project-based environment employing virtual reality. Adopting multiple case study methods, examined the of five students, together with classroom observations interviews about their experiences, order to explore storytelling allowed reflect upon experiences year-end capstone program. Creating 1) on...

Purpose Computing technology is becoming ubiquitous within modern society and youth use regularly for school, entertainment socializing. Yet, despite societal belief that computing neutral, the technologies of today’s are rife with biases harm oppress populations experience marginalization. While previous research has explored children’s values perceptions technology, few studies have focused on conceptualizations this technological bias their understandings how discriminates against them...

We live in an increasingly computational world where youth are impacted by computing technologies and algorithms whether they using them directly or not. The omnipresence of technology the impacts it has on society lead to Threats Techquity, aspects that cause could inequity, especially inequity based marginalized identities. partnered with teachers co-design Talking Techquity curriculum, a middle school curriculum introducing alongside computer science skills. After co-designing teacher...

Background and Context Educators make consequential curricular decisions, often with little support, particularly as it relates to equity how support all students.Objective This paper investigates the use of a rubric educators evaluating computer science curricula, especially regards equity.Method Seventeen in-service elementary teachers evaluated curriculum without Teacher Accessibility, Equity, Content (TEC) Rubric. We examine teachers' responses prompts completed TEC Rubrics understand if...

When designing learning environments and curricula for diverse populations, it is beneficial to connect with learners' cultural knowledge, the related interests, they bring context. To aid in design development of a computing curriculum identify these areas personal connection, we conducted series participatory sessions. The goal sessions was collect ideas around ways make instructional materials reflect interests voices learners. In this paper, examine how use techniques can advance our...

There is a need for more K-12 computer science (CS) teachers. The to scale teacher professional development (PD) points the CS education community towards virtual learning, and prior work shows that in-person PD with diffuse schedule successful than condensed schedules. currently little research about schedule. pandemic served as forced opportunity explore design implementation of diffuse-scheduled two small, equally-sized cohorts middle school (grades 5-8) teachers; one from metropolitan...