Some ideas for addressing stereotypes generated by the group in Spokane.
Types of Stereotypes to address
- students have with themselves
- students have of others
- teacher accidentally perpetuating stereotypes
- how to teach to connect with all students equally
Outside of the Classroom Up Front (Get them in the door)
- make counselors aware of the stereotypes and ask them to be sensitive towards it
- dispel the myth that you have to be good at math to be good at computer science
- use previous students to recruit new students in the future
In Classroom (Make them stay)
- give quick surveys to see what students were most interested in during the past week
- avoid smaller stereotypes like girls are more social; girls aren’t as into video games
- offer a diversity of options in examples (cover a broad range of interests)
- showcase a diversity of cs role models in classroom decorations
- a sausage fest is not helpful – stop inappropriate behavior
- setting norms about respecting ideas to make a safe classroom
- respecting everyone
- bring in different guest speakers to talk about what they do
remember… BE PATIENT – IT WILL TAKE TIME