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California is considered the fifth largest power in the world, but in a state with so many resources there is still inequality education and significant economics.
Experts indicate that the majority of teachers preparing for computer science education are practicing in wealthier school districts.
“Generally not with the types of students we serve,” said Mike Karlin, science teacher , Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at California State University, Domínguez Hills (CSUDH) south of Los Angeles. “For this reason, there are huge gaps in terms of who has access to computer science education in our schools.”
Karlin indicated that in general there are huge systemic inequalities in the field of education. Schools that are in more affluent areas that have more resources are more likely to even offer a computer class because they have the technology, the infrastructure, computers, the broadband Internet Wi Fi.
“And the schools that are already struggling, in terms of resources and infrastructure, do not have the capacity even to offer this type of Karlin said. “Just access to resources, access to space, access to a teacher who can even teach computer science, all of those are major barriers for many schools in the Los Angeles area.”
Addressing equity gaps
In an effort to provide the necessary tools for a quality education, the company Snap Inc. – developer of Snapchat – donated $ 5 million to CSUDH to create a new institute focused on addressing equity gaps in computer education.
The new institute will serve as a leader in computer education research, teacher preparation and curriculum development focused on equity and access, particularly for students with special needs and for bilingual and multilingual students.
“We will do summer camps for students, professional development for local teachers, extracurricular programs and lots of activities to really create a solid foundation of connection and build on the relationships and partnerships we already have in thriving districts, ”said the professor.
Karlin, who will be the director of the institute, said that once college students receive their computer science education they will be able to go out to nearby communities to offer that high quality education for all students in the area.
He added that of the entire CSU system, Dominguez Hills is the university who has graduated most science and math teachers.
The university has approximately the 65% of Latino students and the 67% of students from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Behavior, where the majority of STEM degrees are, are Latino, although not all are under this type of careers.
“And there is a natural overlap between the preparation of science and math teachers with computer science teachers,” he said.
Karlin said that bringing the institute to CSUDH will greatly help the new generations since the students who serve are the ones who traditionally stay outside conversations about computer science and computer science spaces.
Also, through strong partnerships with districts Los Angeles-area schoolchildren, the institute will work to make science education more e high-quality computing an integral part of the experience of all students from kindergarten to grade 12 (k – 12).
CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham said that the integration of education in Computer Science in K Schools Curriculum – important to closing the digital divide that has left many future academics out.
“With the help of Snap Inc., CSUDH will break that digital divide and create academically engaged and technologically savvy leaders throughout Southern California, ”Parham said in a statement.
Donation from Snap Inc. was made in conjunction with the release of the Report Action to Catalyze Tech , created by the Catalyze Tech coalition. The report recommends that there be tech nology available for underrepresented talents and the shortage of computer science teachers is resolved in part by funding centers of excellence endowed for teaching computer science in universities.
The institute will begin its recruitment work in the spring and summer of 2022 and will begin its activities in the fall of 2022.