#CSK8 Podcast - A podcast for computer science educators

In this episode I unpack Walker, Sherif, and Breazeal’s (2022) publication titled “Liberatory computing education for African American students,” which unpacks and situates the five pillars of the liberation framework proposed by El-Amin within data activism modules.

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How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

00:43 Abstract

01:53 My single sentence summary

02:03 Paper introduction

03:14 Background

04:34 The liberatory computing through data activation modules

05:03 Sound racial identity

06:34 Critical consciousness

09:00 Collective obligation

12:02 Liberation centered academic achievement/identity

13:15 Activism skills

14:30 Discussion

15:16 Lingering questions and thoughts

15:23 What other oppressed identities might the liberation framework apply to?

16:28 What would this look like in other areas of CS (i.e., other than data analysis)?

16:59 When might a focus on activism cause harm to students?

18:44 Outro

In this interview with Mike Kaechele, we discuss dismantling prejudices through projects, how to situate project-based learning within the community and for local impact, what can be learned when a project fails, the difference between projects and recipes, why social and emotional learning (SEL) is important, lessons learned teaching a variety of subject areas, differences between equity and equality in education, and so much more.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

01:19 Mike introducing himself

02:06 Something Mike no longer believes about education

04:38 An experience in education that continues to impact Mike

08:34 How Mike tries to bring together communities in the classroom

10:03 What an ideal learning environment looks like

13:04 What does PBL look like to Mike?

18:15 What happens when a project fails?

21:18 What Mike wishes more people understood about PBL

23:58 Mike's favorite project

27:23 Teaching students to collaborate

29:38 Why is it important for teachers to know about SEL?

32:55 How Mike integrates SEL into the classroom

34:53 How Mike learned about SEL

36:51 When wouldn't mike focus on PBL or SEL?

38:49 How teaching different subject areas inform the others

40:38 Advice for integrating multiple subjects

42:07 What is holding back educators and what can we do about it?

44:02 How Mike iterates on his abilities as an educator

45:54 How mike prevents burnout

47:05 Recommendations for improving equity and inclusion

51:25 Mike's thoughts on research

53:06 How to connect with Mike

53:36 Outro

In this episode I unpack Brinkley’s (2020) publication titled “Participation at what cost? Teaching accessibility using participatory design: An experience report,” which summarizes lessons learned designing and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on inclusive design.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

00:21 Abstract

01:33 My single sentence

02:01 Paper introduction

02:45 Background and related work

03:54 Case study, inclusive design, and accessible technology

08:12 Discussion

11:59 Lingering questions and thoughts

12:05 How might inclusive design practices be infused into other courses?

14:00 When wouldn’t you consider designing for accessibility or using inclusive design practices?

16:33 Outro

In this episode I read from a list of school shootings in the United States of America. As uncomfortable as it might be, I ask that you take some time to honor and remember those who have been murdered and injured at school, then act to change this.

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How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

In this episode I unpack Fritz et al.’s (2021) publication titled “Project moveSMART: When physical education meets computational thinking in elementary classrooms,” which summarizes pilot study findings and activities that integrate CS/CT with physical education through a micro:bit.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

00:30 Abstract

01:26 My single sentence summary

02:11 Paper introduction

03:40 Related work

03:49 The pilot study

05:59 Physical activity and CS interest

10:37 Lingering questions and thoughts

11:00 How much of the jump in interest is due to the novelty having not worn off yet?

12:44 The fact that we are having to find ways to combine subject areas together just to meet the minimum recommended daily amount is an indicator that we have too many requirements and not enough time in the school day to do them

14:58 How might we explore integrated CS curricula through an interest-driven approach?

16:02 Outro

In this interview with Bob Irving, we discuss Bob’s book (Hard Fun: Supercharge your middle school computer science classroom with project-based, hands-on, just-in-time learning!), learning CS through Minecraft, the impact of COVID on Bob’s teaching, the importance of interest-driven learning, the future of CS education, and much more.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

01:04 Bob introducing himself

04:47 What are the chapters of Bob's book

06:24 Minecraft in education

15:30 Creating content for YouTube

18:56 What Bob's classes looked like

21:05 How Bob's approach has changed since the last interview

29:55 If Bob had a magic wand...

32:59 What can a teacher do to change their teaching?

40:19 How Bob prevents burnout

50:01 Bob's plans for the future

51:04 Thoughts on the future of CS education

57:59 How to connect with Bob

59:10 Outro

In this episode I unpack Benedict and O’Leary’s (2019) publication titled “Reconceptualizing “music making:” Music technology and freedom in the age of Neoliberalism,” which explores the use of computer science practices to counter neoliberal influence on education.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

00:51 Abstract

01:55 My single sentence summary

02:06 Paper introduction

03:40 Defining technology

04:46 Technological determinism and freedom

07:26 Education as a public good

10:24 Music technology in the chipscene

15:16 Lingering questions and potential points of dialogue

17:27 Lingering questions and thoughts

17:34 How might educators and hegemonic influences on education balance societal, organizational, group, and individual needs?

19:50 When might the approach described in this paper position computer science within a subservient relationship with another discipline?

20:46 Outro

In this interview with Maya Israel, we discuss Maya’s shift from special education into CS education, the importance of universal design for learning (UDL) in CS classes, understanding the spectrum of accessibility for students with a diverse set of needs, the current status of accessibility and inclusion within the field of CS education, problematize deficit framings of students with disabilities, and so much more.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

01:01 Maya introducing herself

01:17 How Maya got into CS education

04:54 How Maya leanred about CS and recommends learning CS

07:06 Maya's specialty in disability research

09:45 What is Universal Design for Learning and why should educators know about it?

12:50 What does an accessible experience look like?

15:23 Teaching multiperspectivalism to teachers

20:23 Least to most prompting

21:54 CS education and accessibility/inclusion

24:46 External support for accessible and inclusive CS education

27:37 How to learn more about disability and accessibility

29:30 Biases and misconceptions teachers have with students with a disability

33:37 What Maya wishes more people understood about her research

35:23 What has surprised Maya about her research

37:26 If Maya had a magic wand...

40:22 How Maya iterates on her abilities

42:36 How Maya prevents burnout

47:22 Recommendations for improving equity and inclusion

48:25 What Maya wishes there was more research on

52:32 Something Maya could use help with from a listener

53:14 A question for the field

54:42 How to connect with Maya

55:00 Outro

In this episode I unpack Yadav and Heath’s (2022) publication titled “Breaking the code: Confronting racism in computer science through community criticality, and citizenship,” which articulates some biases in CS curricular design and pedagogy, then provides three suggestions for teaching CS as an agenda for social reconstruction.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

00:25 Abstract

01:16 My single sentence summary

02:35 Paper introduction

10:48 Theoretical framework

12:56 Community, criticality, and citizenship in computer science

14:34 Community

18:15 Criticality

26:06 Citizenship

29:50 Lingering questions and thoughts

29:59 How might we integrate ethical design principles into learning CS content?

31:13 When might a focus on one image of curriculum within a field or domain become a form of colonization?

34:44 Outro

In this interview with Ruthe Farmer, we discuss Ruthe’s perspectives on feminism in education, Ruthe’s journey through tech inclusion entrepreneurship, finding ways outside of the classroom to have an impact on education, Ruthe’s work with the Last Mile Education Fund, and so much more.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

00:54 Ruthe introducing herself

01:03 What drew Ruthe to CS education?

02:09 What does a feminist lens mean to Ruthe?

08:08 Ruthe's journey through CS education

13:36 Behind the scenes of working in the White House

16:22 Advocating without colonizing

20:54 Recommendations for educators who want to get involved in educational policy

24:32 Structural barriers impacting equity and inclusion in CS education

27:00 Last Mile Education Fund

35:19 How Ruthe prevents burnout

37:22 A message to the CS education community

38:46 The importance of recognition

39:45 How to connect with Ruthe

40:30 Outro