Award Abstract # 2122709
Expanding Girl Power by Design: Continuing to Broaden Participation in Information and Communication Technology Pathways

NSF Org: CNS
Division Of Computer and Network Systems
Recipient: UNIVERSITY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Initial Amendment Date: August 12, 2021
Latest Amendment Date: August 12, 2021
Award Number: 2122709
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Allyson Kennedy
aykenned@nsf.gov
 (703)292-8905
CNS
 Division Of Computer and Network Systems
CSE
 Direct For Computer & Info Scie & Enginr
Start Date: October 1, 2021
End Date: September 30, 2024 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $996,427.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $996,427.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2021 = $996,427.00
History of Investigator:
  • Aaminah Norris (Principal Investigator)
    aaminah.norris@csus.edu
  • Deidre Sessoms (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Anna Baynes (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University Enterprises, Incorporated
6000 J ST STE 3700
SACRAMENTO
CA  US  95819-2605
(916)278-6402
Sponsor Congressional District: 07
Primary Place of Performance: California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento
CA  US  95819-2605
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): N58JMBDDUGU7
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): CSforAll-Computer Sci for All
Primary Program Source: 01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 023Z
Program Element Code(s): 134Y00
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.070

ABSTRACT

Incorporating students? cultural identities into computer science teaching has been shown to support student learning and address issues of power, race, and gender. This is particularly impactful for students who are underrepresented in computing to imagine, or reimagine, their futures. This partnership between California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) and the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) will build upon their prior work in creating a high school computing pathway that is more inclusive for African American and Latina girls. The team will continue preparing teachers in the school district through a culturally responsive professional development program and aims to increase the number of girls enrolled in the district?s Information and Communication Technology courses by 51%. This project will also create a holistic network of support for the girls participating in the program that engages families, community organizations, and industry partners. The project?s focus on engaging and retaining high school girls in computing courses will identify best practices that can help inform school districts on how to remove systemic and historical barriers in computing pathways and classes.

This research-practitioner partnership between California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) and the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) will build upon prior work to improve the representation of high school girls in computer science (CS). The project team aims to increase the number of girls enrolled in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Pathways in EGUSD by 51%, from 155 to 300, by focusing on recruiting and retaining African Americans and Latina girls into the ICT pathway. The project team will also scale a culturally responsive computing PD program for teachers and engage parents and guardians as a holistic support network. The team?s use of linguistically responsive recruitment will deepen knowledge about how to broaden the participation of high school girls in CS by building on their cultural and linguistic assets. The project will also generate substantial evidence on the impact of teachers' professional development and the use of culturally responsive computing in increasing equity in CS for girls.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

Print this page

Back to Top of page