State of AP CS in Georgia Mark Guzdial Professor, School of Interactive Computing Director, NSF BPC Alliance, “Georgia Computes!” with Barbara Ericson.

State of AP CS in Georgia

Mark GuzdialProfessor, School of Interactive Computing

Director, NSF BPC Alliance, “Georgia Computes!”

with Barbara Ericson (ICE, College of Computing) and Tom McKlin (The Findings

Group)

Georgia Computes!• Goal (Started 2006): To broaden participation in

computing by improving computing education across the entire state at once.

• Programs with youth-serving organizations.

• Professional development and community support for K-12 and undergraduate computing teachers.

• Touched 36% of all high schools in state, generating 58% of GA students enrolled in CS1 (at participating schools).

• Growing capacity: Creating summer camp programs around the state.

• Associated projects like “Glitch!” and “Operation: Reboot”

State of High School CS in Georgia

• CS is in “Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education.”

• We have a “Business and Computer Science Career Pathway” for high school.

• Based on ACM K-12 Model Curriculum

• “Computing in the Modern World”

• “Beginning Programming”

• “Intermediate Programming”

• “AP: Computer Science”

• We have a Computer Science Endorsement available for high school teachers.

In Georgia, AP CS Counts

• Georgia counts AP CS as a “Science” towards high school graduation requirements.

• University System of Georgia accepts AP CS as counting either as a “Science” or “Mathematics,” but in its own category.

• But doesn’t always stay that way...

Schools in Georgia Teaching AP CS

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As percent of schools, best in Southeast

AP CS Test Taking in Georgia

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Number of AP CS Tests

Who’s taking those tests?

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And how are they doing?

Percentage of students earning a 3 or higher.

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Conclusions: It’s hard to make change

• “Georgia Computes!” through ICE has had a dramatic impact on high school (especially AP) CS in the state of Georgia.

• Yet, the overall impact on women and minorities has been relatively small.

• Small numbers

• Poor performance

• Hence: The call for a new model.