Broadening Participation in Computer Science (CS) Education

Broadening Participation in Computer Science (CS) Education is a six-part webinar series that addresses the importance of increasing girls’ and women’s meaningful and influential participation in tech innovation and development each month. The series is free and open to the public — geared towards K-12 formal and informal educators, and high school and college students.

The webinar series is being funded by the Infosys Foundation USA and is being offered through its Pathfinders Online Institute, a free digital learning platform that offers high-quality computer science and maker education resources for educators and students across the U.S.

ICYMI: Check out the AspireIT Toolkit to assist you in designing and creating CS experiences in your community.
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Become the Student: Examining the Value of Asynchronous Instruction

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. PT, 4:00 p.m. MT, 5:00 p.m. CT, 6:00 p.m. ET
NCWIT and Infosys Foundation USA invite you to join us for a conversation with Sanjitha Prabakaran, an NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community member and AspireIT Impact Award recipient, discussing how to utilize asynchronous demonstration for computing programs and other CS learning experiences. In this webinar, we will be discussing the various elements that go into this type of instruction, including how to organize materials, how to prepare for each lesson, and other tips to ensure hands-on engagement in an asynchronous format. We recommend reviewing the sample asynchronous demonstration prior to this webinar. In this recording, Sanjitha walks through some of the asynchronous materials that they offer to participants and demonstrates a lesson plan utilizing basic JavaScript to create a fun meme, and we will be referencing this recording throughout the session. By the end of this webinar, you will have the guidance you need to utilize asynchronous instruction for computing programs and other CS experiences in your community.

Learn How to Implement Hands-On Computing Experiences in Your Community

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. MT / 5:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. ET

NCWIT and Infosys Foundation USA invite you to join a panel discussion with experienced computing program facilitators as they discuss the work they’ve accomplished in their community and offer guidance for implementing successful computing programs. In this session, you will also learn about the new AspireIT Toolkit and the importance of peer mentorship, inclusivity, and hands-on engagement when creating computing experiences. The Toolkit will help you find everything you need to engage students in your programming, raise awareness about the importance of computing education, and connect with others who share similar passions. By the end of this session, you will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to implement computing experiences in your community.

 

Inclusion Changes What’s Possible: Creating a Positive Classroom Climate

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. MT / 5:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. ET

NCWIT and Infosys Foundation USA invite you to join us for a presentation with representatives of the NCWIT Research and Evaluation teams to discuss the importance of a positive classroom climate. Listen in as these research scientists discuss what factors influence classroom climate, offer strategies that can create more inclusive environments, and take a deep dive into NCWIT resources that will assist with this endeavor and help encourage students to persist in computer science coursework and careers. With all of these free resources available to the public, you can equip others to have vital conversations surrounding culture change in your district. By the end of this session you will be equipped with the tools to create a positive and inclusive classroom climate (both in person and virtually) and better prepare students for a future in computing.

Broadening Participation in the Classroom: A Discussion with NCWIT National Educator Award Recipients

December 8, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT / 4:00 p.m. MT / 3:00 p.m. PT

NCWIT and Infosys Foundation USA invite you to join us for a panel discussion with National Aspirations in Computing Educator Award recipients, who support the computing-related passions of 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students. Gain inspiration for the coming semester as you listen and engage with these exceptional educators. Panelists will discuss the value of promoting gender equity in computing and the tactics they have used to broaden the participation of students who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) in computing and technology. By the end of this session, you will be able to implement strategies to get other faculty and students interested in broadening the participation of girls, women, and other underrepresented populations in computing.

Building Partnerships with School Counselors and Librarians

November 9, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. CT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 p.m. PT

NCWIT and Infosys Foundation USA invite you to join us for a panel discussion with members of the NCWIT Counselors for Computing (C4C) program, where they will provide information and resources that help counselors, librarians, and other educators join the front line of the computing conversation. Listen in as counselors and librarians discuss what they are doing to bring programs together with professional development, knowledge, and resources to give all students access to transformative computing careers. By the end of this session, you will have learned how to better work with counselors and librarians to become a change leader for implementing computer science and gain the knowledge to educate parents, spark creativity in students, and illuminate a future they may have never considered.

Inspired by Youth: A Discussion With High School and College Students Who Build Local CS Communities

October 11, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT / 4:00 p.m. MT / 3:00 p.m. PT

NCWIT and Infosys Foundation USA invite you to join a panel discussion with several 2021 NCWIT AspireIT Impact Award recipients. The AspireIT Impact Award honors 30 women, genderqueer, or non-binary individuals for their incredible work to ultimately encourage K-16 girls to contribute their unique perspectives and ideas to future innovations. Listen in as these award recipients discuss how they build and creatively offer hands-on learning opportunities in computing and career exploration, and how they bring together advocates and allies of various backgrounds through computing-related events and community groups. By the end of this session, you will be inspired and equipped to encourage and offer students with historically marginalized identities ways to partake in peer and near-peer mentorship, connect with other technical women, and to participate in local computing career pathways and opportunities.

How to Register for the Pathfinders Online Institute

You can create an account on the Infosys Foundation USA’s free digital learning platform – the Pathfinders Online Institute – and access high-quality computer science and maker education resources for educators and students across the U.S. Please find steps for creating an account below:

  1. *Click “Access Free CS & Maker ED Resources.”
  2. Click “Create New Account.” (If you are an existing user, please login using your username & password.)
  3. Enter user information and select password. Click “Create New Account.”
  4. Check your email for a verification email from “Wingspan.” Click on the email verification link.
  5. Once your email is verified, login using your account credentials and register for the webinar.

Previous Webinars

If you want to access these specific webinar recordings on the Pathfinders platform, you can follow these steps:

  • Log in to the Pathfinders Online Institute.
  • On the homepage, search for “AspireIT” in the top right corner.
  • Click on the Course Card titled “Broadening Participation in Computer Science (CS) Education.”
  • Click the orange “Start” button, and the past webinar recordings will appear on the side of the page.
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