What does the phrase “diverse students” mean? An exploration of CS teachers’ ideas of race, culture, and community in their classrooms

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Context Recent research suggests that there is work to be done in overcoming color-evasive ideologies in Computer Science (CS) education. In particular, we have limited insight into how to support white teachers in using Culturally Responsive Computing (CRC) approaches. This paper addresses this gap in the literature by analyzing interviews with white high school CS teachers through the lens of hegemonic whiteness. Objective We ask two questions 1) What are the gaps between these teachers’ views on culture, community, and responsiveness, and how CRC envisions the interplay of these three elements? 2) How can we use teachers’ understandings to reconceptualize presenting CRC to them in a manner that may best benefit their students? Method We use semi-structured interviews of nine teachers until data saturation. We use in-vivo and values coding in the first round and code-weaving in the second round to come up with emergent themes. Findings Our findings show that these teachers did one or more of the following: 1) had dynamic but content-agnostic views about culture in the classroom; 2) focused on community connections with academia, industry, and/or parents; 3) framed the challenges of implementing CRC through a deficit lens; and 4) valued students’ individuality, but were essentialist about student culture. Implications We have implications for practitioners, e.g. to have professional developments that allow teachers to name and challenge white supremacy in CS. We also have implications for researchers, e.g. to investigate ways in which white students and teachers can benefit from anti-racist CS education.