Day 1
01 Opener 02 Barriers 03 Break 04 Model 05 Lunch 06 Practices 07 Equity 08 Break 09 Plan 10 End

Session 2: Addressing Barriers and Challenges

30 minutes

discussion-based

Purpose

The purpose of this session is for participants to share barriers and challenges in implementing and teaching CS Fundamentals, as well as discuss next steps to address them.

Objectives

  • Participants will identify barriers to implementing and sustaining CS Fundamentals courses in their classrooms.
  • Participants will identify challenges to teaching CS Fundamentals equitably.
  • Participants will identify the power they have to influence strategies that address barriers and challenges.

Supplies & Prep

Room Setup:

  • Poster with T-chart
    • Column 1 labeled: “Barriers to Implementation”
    • Column 2 labeled: “Challenges to Teaching Equitably”
  • Poster labeled “Addressing Barriers and Challenges”

Facilitator Materials:

Teacher Materials:

Agenda

Barriers and Challenges (30 minutes)

Facilitation Guide

Barriers and Challenges (30 minutes)

(2 minutes) Context

Remarks

We will begin this session by identifying barriers and challenges faced when implementing and teaching CS Fundamentals courses. Barriers may be obstacles that prevent or block implementing and sustaining CS Fundamentals courses. For example, lack of time throughout the school day for all of your students to consistently learn CS Fundamentals. Challenges may be questions or actions needed to teach CS Fundamentals equitably to all students. A reminder that when we refer to equity we are talking about access, inclusion, and diversity in CS. An example of a challenge may be, how can I maintain the pacing of a lesson to engage all students in learning CS?

(8 minutes) Identifying Barriers and Challenges

(2 minutes) Participants individually write down one response on a sticky note for each prompt and add their sticky notes to each column of the poster labeled “Barriers to Implementation” and “Challenges to Equitable Teaching.”

Facilitator Tip

Examples of categories may include:

  • Barriers: Limited access to devices on a regular basis
  • Challenges: Providing students with a variety of ways for communicating throughout the lesson to ensure all students share their thinking and ideas.
  • Extending across both barriers and challenges: Time constraints - teaching during the school day; planning lessons, too much content

While creating categories from the responses on the sticky notes, set the sticky notes off to the immediate side of the poster to refer to them if needed during the next activity.

(6 minutes) While participants discuss their responses to the prompts at their tables, read, sort, and identify categories based on participants’ responses on the poster.

Prompts:

  • What barriers, if any, have you encountered in implementing and/or sustaining CS Fundamentals in your classroom?
  • What challenges, if any, have you encountered in teaching CS Fundamentals equitably?

Write the top two categories for barriers and top two categories for challenges identified, directly on the poster labeled “Addressing Barriers and Challenges.”

Leave some space between each statement for participants to later add sticky notes near the statements on the poster.

(8 minutes) Addressing Barriers and Challenges

Remarks

Next, let’s take a look at what the room has identified as the top two barriers and top two challenges so that we can begin to brainstorm and find ways to address them. Consider how the strategies shared might generate ideas for you to address unique barriers and challenges you may encounter.

  • (1 minute) Share with participants the top four categories identified on the poster, “Addressing Barriers and Challenges, ” two categories for barriers and two categories for challenges.

  • (7 minutes) Table Talk

    • Participants share their response to the prompt with others at their table.
      • As a group, participants write on sticky notes one strategy to address a barrier and one strategy to address a challenge and add the sticky notes to the poster, “Addressing Barriers and Challenges.”
      • Suggest each group identify a presenter who will summarize key takeaways with the rest of the whole group.

  • Prompt:

    • What strategies might support addressing the barriers and challenges identified?

(5 minutes) Whole Group Share Out

Facilitator Tip

Share with participants the CS Teaching Practices session is another opportunity to further address teaching challenges.

Invite each group’s presenter to summarize key takeaways in addressing the barriers and challenges identified. Encourage participants to take notes in their journals and/or take a photo of the poster during the upcoming break for reference after the workshop.

(2 minutes) Journal

Participants individually respond to the journal prompts.

Prompts:

  • Which of the barriers and challenges I identified do I have the power to influence?
  • What are the risks to supporting equity in CS if I do not address the barriers and challenges I have the power to address?

(5 minutes) Whole Group Share Out

Discussion Goal

The goal of this discussion is to support participants in recognizing what they can do to address barriers and challenges they may face and identifying next steps they can take to do so.

Invite participants to share their responses to the prompts with the whole group.

Prompts:

  • What are the risks to supporting equity in CS if I do not address the barriers and challenges I have the power to address?
  • What steps do I need to take towards addressing a barrier or challenge I identified?