Day 1
01 Intro 02 CSD Overview 03 Break 04 ML 1: U1L3 05 Tools and Strategies 06 Lunch 07 ML 2: U1L7 08 Tools and Strategies 09 Lesson Assignments 10 Break 11 Lesson Planning 12 Wrap Up 13 Fac. Debrief
Day 2
14 Intro 15 ML 3: U2L2 16 Tools and Strategies 17 Break 18 Lesson Planning 19 Lunch 20 ML 4: U2L3 21 Break 22 Tools and Strategies 23 TLO 1: U2L5 24 Wrap Up 25 Fac. Debrief
Day 3
26 Intro 27 Understanding Context 28 TLO 2: U2L6 29 Break 30 TLO 3: U2L9 31 Lunch 32 TLO 4: U2L11 33 Classroom Culture 34 Break 35 TLO 5: U2L16 36 Wrap Up 37 Fac. Debrief
Day 4
38 Intro 39 Bias and Responsibility 40 Unit 3 Intro 41 Break 42 TLO 6: U3L2 43 TLO 7: U3L3 44 Lunch 45 Differentiation 46 TLO 8: U3L4 47 Break 48 Content Wrap Up 49 Barriers, Opportunities, and Commitments 50 Wrap Up 51 Fac. Debrief
Day 5
52 Intro 53 Prep for the Year 54 Assessment 55 Break 56 Revisit Topics 57 Community 58 Lunch 59 Planning 60 Closing Ceremonies 61 End Early & Friday Facilitator Debrief

Session 49: Barriers, Opportunities, and Commitments

60 minutes

discussion-based

Purpose

The equity focused discussions throughout the week have all been building up to this session where participants will be asked to make a commitment related to equity in CS education. The goal is for participants to leave this session with a concrete plan for how they will make progress towards the goal they have committed to. This plan will be revisited during the academic year workshops.

Objectives

  • Identify barriers in their classrooms, school, and teaching practice that limit access, diversity, and inclusion in CS
  • Determine which of those barriers they have the power to influence
  • Identify concrete and reasonable strategies to address the barriers they have the power to influence
  • Describe the commitment they will pursue in support of equity in CS, and the strategies they will use to support that commitment
  • Define the support they will need to pursue that commitment.
  • Identify the measurement(s) they will use to track progress toward the commitment

Supplies & Prep

Room Setup:

  • Participants are seated in pods

Facilitator Supplies and Prep:

Teacher Materials:

  • Journal

Agenda

Barriers and Opportunities (25 minutes)

Pursuing a Commitment (35 minutes)

Facilitation Guide

Barriers and Opportunities (25 minutes)

(5 minutes) Concern - Influence - Control

Remarks

Throughout the week we have been reflecting on equity in CS education. Earlier this morning we acknowledged that as CS educators, we all have a responsibility to work towards reducing the CS equity gap. Yesterday we focused on systemic barriers that impact access, diversity and inclusion in CS. We have limited control over systemic barriers, however, we do have control over barriers within our own classrooms and possibly even barriers that exist within our schools.

Facilitator Tip

The graphic shows a visual for the Concern-Influence-Control model. In general, what we are "concerned" about is much larger than what we can "influence" and/or "control". Likewise, what we can "control" is smaller than the things we can "influence". This session is intended to help participants let go of the barriers that they cannot control in order to make space to address the things they do influence or control.

The facilitator uses slides to introduce the concern - influence - control framework highlighting examples at each level.

In order to prompt robust conversation in the upcoming activity, the facilitator shares examples for each category either from their own experience or examples they have heard from previous participants.

Examples:

  • Concern - some students don’t have computers at home
  • Influence - students are pulled out of CS class for additional services
  • Control - students are being exposed to curriculum materials that reinforce stereotypes about who belongs in CS

(10 minutes) Reflection

Prompt: Brainstorm barriers that fit into each of the following categories:

  • Concern: things that I am concerned about, but cannot really influence
  • Influence: things that I may be able to influence, but I cannot control
  • Control: things that I have the power to control

Think-Pair-Share:

  • (2 minutes) Think: individual reflection
  • (3 minutes) Pair: discuss with a partner
  • (5 minutes) Share: table share out

Remarks

Within every barrier there is opportunity for change.

(10 minutes) Opportunities

Prompt: Select one barrier that is within your power to influence and one barrier that is within your power to control. What concrete actions can you take to reduce or remove each of those barriers for your students?

Discussion Goal

During the share out, try to draw out themes that you are hearing and connect those themes to concrete strategies that participants might use to overcome those barriers. This share out will prime participants to make a commitment and a plan.

Think-Pair-Share:

  • (2 minutes) Think: individual reflection
  • (3 minutes) Pair: discuss with a partner
  • (5 minutes) Share: whole group share out

Pursuing a Commitment (35 minutes)

(15 minutes) 30-60-90 Day Plan

Participants will use page 46 of their curriculum guide to build an equity focused action plan.

Prompt: Consider the opportunities for change present within the areas that you have the ability to control and influence related to access, diversity, and inclusion in CS. What is one commitment you would like to make related to working towards equity in CS education?

  • (2 minutes) Think: individual reflection
  • (2 minutes) Pair: discuss with a partner

(10 minutes) Prompt: Determine the steps you can take towards addressing the barrier you identified and what you can do to work towards this commitment in:

  • the next 30 days
  • the next 60 days
  • the next 90 days

(10 minutes) Table Reflection

Participants share their plans with their table group for peer feedback. Participants are encouraged to refine their plan based on feedback from their peers.

(5 minutes) Individual Reflection

Prompts:

  • How will I know I am making progress towards my commitment?
  • What support do I need from my community as I pursue my commitment?

(5 minutes) Group Share Out

Facilitator Tip

There is not time for participants to share their entire plans here. The purpose of this share is for each participant to publicly voice their commitment.

Each participant shares their commitment with the group.