Active Recruiting: Attract More and Diverse Students to Your CS Courses Leslie Cintron Research Scientist University of Virginia
Why Should We Actively Recruit for Diversity? The Value of Diversity to Computer Science Enhances innovation Expands the qualified employee pool Improves the bottom line Promotes equality Reflects user/consumer base ncwit.org/businesscase
COMPUTING OFFERS MANY REWARDING OCCUPATIONS WITH JUST A BACHELOR’S DEGREE
“Best Jobs in America” Reports* US News: 5 of top 15 (including #1 and #2) Salary.com: 2 of top 10 (including #1) CNN Money: 3 of top 10 *Based on job satisfaction, stability, and salary
BLS PREDICTED JOB OPENINGS
Computing Occupations Pay Well Broad Category2016 Average2015 Average Engineering$64,891$62,998 Computer Science$61,321$61,287 Math & Sciences$55,087$56,171 Business$52,236$51,508 Agriculture & Natural Resources$48,729$51,220 Healthcare$48,712$50,839 Communications$47,047$49,395 Social Sciences$46,585$49,047 Humanities$46,065$45,042 Education$34,891NA Source: Winter 2016 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers: salaries.aspx#sthash.EBacbDXD.dpuf
Support for more CS in Schools content/uploads/2016/04/WashingtonPostAd_ Final.pdf
BUT FEW GIRLS STUDY COMPUTING
Ten Most Popular Majors Men’s Bachelor Degrees Women’s Bachelor Degrees *Calculated by Cohoon with IPEDS data on 1 st & 2 nd majors
Actively Recruit Craft messages Reach out Raise visibility Persuade personally
# Change% Change CS AP40148% CS AP Girls10773% CS AP URM7153% CS non AP68418% CS non AP Girls37240% CS non AP URM20822% Data from CS Teachers Who Have Used Active Recruiting
How to Craft Messages Capitalize on how we choose our occupations Choice of Occupation InterestConfidenceBelongingIdentity
Ignite your students’ interest
Showcase projects tied to current & future interests
Robotic Exoskeletons Computing can help paralyzed people walk again: technology-exoskeleton-walking.html
Describe careers that spark women’s interest Flexibility: industry, geography Socially relevant Work with others Time with family Job projections High salaries Satisfied professionals
Example Message Computing offers exciting work that affects our world and the people in it Create technology for Tracking endangered dolphins Mobile forensics labs for instant analysis at crime scenes GPS systems that guide blind people Scanning DNA for childhood diseases Designing and displaying new fashions Restoring and preserving art work Source: dotdiva.org
Example Message Computer Scientists give back to their communities Technology for human rights Design secure databases to record human rights abuses while shielding the identities of victims or witnesses Create tools that help ordinary people collect extraordinary amounts of money for important causes
1.Data Scientist 2.Statistician 3.Information Security Analyst 4.Audiologist 5.Diagnostic Medical Sonographer 6.Mathematician 7.Software Engineer 8.Computer Systems Analyst 9.Speech Pathologist 10.Actuary According to CareerCast Example Message Best Jobs in America 2016
Example Message Computer Scientists work in every industry 21 Source: dotdiva.org
Fun Can Be Enough Not all students are thinking of the future, jobs Those who are may not want to think of it all the time When they think of their future, they are probably thinking about being a college freshman
Example Message Computing occupations are well paid Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
CS Changes Healthcare & Education
Computing Enhances Creativity and Human Potential
Confidence
Cultivate Confidence that she can succeed Showcase successes of current & former students “You’d be great at this” “I want you in my class” Provide opportunities for experiencing success Describe how the course promotes success
Emphasize Growth in Intelligence The effort to master difficult material actually increases intellectual ability See Carol Dweck’s work
Don’t mistake confidence or experience for ability
Belonging
Build belonging, inclusivity Recruit in groups Have friends recruit friends Use inclusive language Set-up a welcoming physical environment Tell them you want them to study computing
Describe the Prevalence of CS
Identity
Describe Opportunities and Promote Involvement Community service Conference attendance Poster presentation Outreach projects
Provide intentional role models to help build identity - Marx et al Posters, etc. of women’s contributions in CS Demographic similarity makes it easier, but is not required It’s most important to demonstrate a commitment to shared values
Remember Ignite Interest Cultivate Confidence Build Belonging Instill Identity
HOW TO CONVEY YOUR MESSAGES
Avoid mythbusting, geeks, cubicles, code monkeys, … May actually create stereotypes Once implanted, difficult to dislodge See “How Warnings about False Claims Become Recommendations” “I’ve heard that before so it must be true”
REACH OUT Use media such as posters, announcements, videos Show up at orientation/ elective fairs Connect current students with prospective students Collaborate with clubs, sports teams
Link computing to girls’ existing interests & ambitions »Robots saving lives, cute Take every opportunity to recruit »Joint projects Photos on posters »People rather than things Exhibits, Posters, Guest Speakers
Time It Right Before course selection, not after
MAKE COMPUTER SCIENCE VISIBLE
ncwit.org/award NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing raises visibility for your program & students
Make Projects Visible Posters outside the classroom, in the library, etc. Webpages Events
Showcase and Publicly Celebrate Successes of Current & Former Students
PERSONALLY PERSUADE
Overcome Objections Use student’s name in one-on- one conversation Listen and acknowledge student’s expressed beliefs, offer persuasive evidence, assure his/her success “I understand why you think that CS is … but can I show you my students’ work?”
What about underrepresentation? Liken computing to other fields where women have historically been underrepresented, like medicine, law Show interesting and valued contributions of women computer scientists Contributed by Jane Margolis
Don’t let refusal be permanent “Can we talk again before you choose your courses for next year?” “If not now, consider CS in college”
Others Can Deliver The Message Share messages with other key influencers such as parents, counselors, other teachers, principals, Provide them with up-to-date information
Advisors can deliver the message Provide them with up-to-date information
Free Resources to Help You Inform Others Statistics about computing education and workforce in your area
NCWIT Resources: Practices, Boxes, Talking Points, & More Practices BoxesTalking Points
FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT NONE OF THIS WILL WORK UNLESS YOU OFFER A GOOD COURSE, SO USE INCLUSIVE PEDAGOGY
First experiences are crucial Engaging examples Tie concepts to interesting uses Inhibit grandstanding Use collaborative learning Build confidence (scaffold and encourage)
Collaborative learning is more than group work See: &feature=iv&src_vid=A6kdFdJp4jY&v=rG_U12uqRhE
Support and encourage Cohoon, 2006 Cheering effort works!