ITW: Out of the Loop: Why Are So Few Underrepresented Minority High School Students Learning Computer Science?

University Of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

Institution: University of California-Los Angeles Proposal Number: EIA 0090043 PI: Jane Margolis Title: Out of the Loop: Why Are So Few Underrepresented Minority High School Students Learning Computer Science This CISE Information Technology Workforce (ITW) proposal requests funds to study why so few male and female African American and Hispanic students are studying computer science at the high school level. Specifically, the study will examine the decisions of college-bound African American and Hispanic students to take (or not take), persist (or not persist) in computer science courses beyond the introductory level. The research model considers the interplay between the high school educational environment and the psychological and cultural factors that affect male and female underrepresented minority students' interest in learning computer science. The sites of the investigation are schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District. This project has the potential to provide valuable insights about how to attract underrepresented minorities to IT classes in high school and college.