Maureen S. Biggers College of Computing Georgia Institute of Technology J. McGrath Cohoon National Center for Women & IT & University of Virginia
Jan 14, 2016
Maureen S. BiggersCollege of Computing
Georgia Institute of Technology
J. McGrath CohoonNational Center for Women & IT
&University of Virginia
Some of your
students will leave no
matter what you do
Some of your
students will stay no
matter what you doSome of your
students will allow you to
influence their decisions to stay or leave
Five sets of retention recommendations• Based on research
o Institutional retentiono Retention in computing majors
Assess your department’s retention practices
A few words of advice about change
Routinely facilitate academic success
Promote community
Maintain interest through curriculum
Support students
Monitor outcomes
Test early and often
Put Performance in Context
A llllllllllB llllllllllllllllllllllC lllllllllllllllD lllF ll
A=75 – 100B = 60 – 74
Skill building through
Practice
Practice
Practice
REU
Find some truth in whatever students say
Inhibit show-offsPromote asking questions
Critical to student experience• Feedback & context• Practice builds skill• Participation• Encourage persistence
Peer led team learning
Pair programming
www.umkc.edu/cad/si
•Higher test scores•Higher levels of student involvement•Higher levels of enthusiasm•Pursuit of topics to more advanced levels
Community & academic achievement•Greater sense of academic community•Quality interaction with profs and peers
Avoid isolating women and minoritiesFacilitate student interaction
• Study groups• ACM• Women’s groups• Peer mentoring
Use inclusive languageSpotlight women for their accomplishments, not their gender
CS and …
Programming is a toolSurvey course
Use meaningful examplesDescribe how skills can be applied
• Especially in ways that help people
Computer science is
“creating the
applications, processes,
and tools that allow
computers to solve real
world problems” not
being a “code monkey”
Reach out to women
The first 3 - 6 weeks on your campus can make or break for program completion
therefore . . .
FRONTLOAD
Early Warning SystemCall those who miss 2-3 consecutive classesBelow “C” on first testFailure to register
•Describe your personal history
• highlight shared elements
•Explain how they could achieve what you achieved
Measure goal attainmentReport results
Revise
Continue/Discontinue
Minute Paper• What is the most
important thing you’ve learned in class today?
• What is the main, unanswered question you have?
Punctuation LecturesStop and reflect on what students were doing
Productive Study Time Logs Record time spent studying for class
• When • How productively
http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/bib/assess.htm
Student Experience of the Major
Track enrollmentTrack course outcomes
Report results
Gender Diversity in Computing
Attracting, Retaining, & Advancing Women in Undergraduate Computing
Awards #05335
80#05335
65
Routinely facilitate academic success
Promote community
Maintain interest through curriculum
Support students
Monitor outcomes
Overall Advice
Start right
Classroom experience is critical