Evaluation of the IMPACTS Computer Science Presentations

July 2013

Authors


Steven McGee

The Learning Partnership

Ronald I. Greenberg

Loyola University Chicago

Dale F. Reed

University of Illinois at Chicago

Jennifer Duck

The Learning Partnership

Recent computer science enrollments have shown positive trends. However, these trends are not evenly distributed by gender and race. Efforts to recruit underrepresented students should focus on providing information that demystifies the field of computer science. This paper reports on such an effort to inform underrepresented high school students about the field and its diversity. The results suggest that increasing awareness in an enjoyable format can increase student interest in pursuing computer science. These results can provide guidance about ways to encourage students to take high school computer science classes as motivation and preparation for college-level computer science.

Related Grants


Suggested Citation

McGee, S., Greenberg, R. I., Reed, D. F., & Duck, J. (2013, Summer). Evaluation of the IMPACTS computer science presentations.