{"id":1157637,"date":"2023-07-06T05:52:10","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T09:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1157637"},"modified":"2023-07-06T05:52:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T09:52:10","slug":"running-a-workshop-with-teachers-to-create-culturally-relevant-computing-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1157637","title":{"rendered":"Running a workshop with teachers to create culturally relevant Computing lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Who chooses to study Computing? In England, data from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stem.org.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/pages\/downloads\/Science%20Education%20in%20England%20-%20Charts.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GCSE and A level Computer Science entries<\/a> in 2019 shows that the answer is complex. <a href=\"https:\/\/committees.parliament.uk\/publications\/34531\/documents\/190060\/default\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Caribbean students were one of the most underrepresented groups<\/a> in the subject, while pupils from other ethnic backgrounds, such as White British, Chinese, and Asian Indian, were well-represented. This picture is reflected in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishscienceassociation.org\/Handlers\/Download.ashx?IDMF=3d51130a-458b-4363-9b2b-d197afc8382a\">STEM workforce in England<\/a>, where Black people are also underrepresented.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"295\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/CC82019-500x295-1.jpg\" alt=\"Two young girls, one of them with a hijab, do a Scratch coding activity together at a desktop computer.\" class=\"wp-image-73555\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>That\u2019s why one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/research\/\">our areas of academic research<\/a> aims to support Computing teachers to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/culturally-responsive-pedagogy-for-computing-education\/\">culturally relevant pedagogy<\/a> to design and deliver equitable learning experiences that enable all learners to enjoy and succeed in Computing and Computer Science at school. Our previous research projects within this area have involved developing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/blog\/culturally-relevant-computing-curriculum-guidelines-for-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guidelines for culturally relevant and responsive teaching<\/a>, and exploring how a small group of primary and secondary Computing teachers <a href=\"https:\/\/computingeducationresearch.org\/making-computing-teaching-culturally-responsive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">used these guidelines in their teaching<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"620\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/5366_Pedagogy_tree_V3.png\" alt=\"A tree symbolising culturally relevant pedagogy,with the roots labeled 'curriculum, the trunk labeled 'teaching approaches', and the crown labeled 'learning materials'.\" class=\"wp-image-76880\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Learning materials, teaching approaches, and the curriculum as a whole are three areas where culturally relevance is important.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In our latest research study, funded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cognizantusfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cognizant<\/a>, we worked with 13 primary school teachers in England on adapting computing lessons to incorporate culturally relevant and responsive principles and practices. Here\u2019s an insight into the workshop we ran with them, and what the teachers and we have taken away from it.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adapting lesson materials based on culturally relevant pedagogy<\/h2>\n<p>In the group of 13 England-based primary school Computing teachers we worked with for this study:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One third were specialist primary Computing teachers, and the other two thirds were class teachers who taught a range of subjects<\/li>\n<li>Some acted as Computing subject lead or coordinator at their school<\/li>\n<li>Most had taught Computing for between three and five years\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The majority worked in urban areas of England, at schools with culturally diverse catchment areas\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In November 2022, we held a one-day workshop with the teachers to introduce culturally relevant pedagogy and explore how to adapt two six-week units of computing resources.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image1-500x280-1.png\" alt=\"An example of a collaborative activity from a teacher-focused workshop around culturally relevant pedagogy.\" class=\"wp-image-84421\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An example of a collaborative activity from the workshop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The first part of the workshop was a collaborative, discussion-based professional development session exploring what <a href=\"https:\/\/static.teachcomputing.org\/pedagogy\/QR18-Culturally-relevant-pedagogy.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">culturally relevant pedagogy<\/a> is. This type of pedagogy uses equitable teaching practices to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Draw on the breadth of learners\u2019 experiences and cultural knowledge<\/li>\n<li>Facilitate projects that have personal meaning for learners<\/li>\n<li>Develop learners\u2019 critical consciousness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The rest of the workshop day was spent putting this learning into practice while planning how to adapt two units of computing lessons to make them culturally relevant for the teachers\u2019 particular settings. We used a design-based approach for this part of the workshop, meaning researchers and teachers worked collaboratively as equal stakeholders to decide on plans for how to alter the units.<\/p>\n<p>We worked in four groups, each with three or four teachers and one or two researchers, focusing on one of two units of work from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/curriculum\">The Computing Curriculum<\/a> for teaching digital skills: a unit on photo editing for Year 4 (ages 8\u20139), and a unit about vector graphics for Year 5 (ages 9\u201310).<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"504\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image2.png\" alt=\"Descriptions of a classroom unit of teaching materials about photo editing for Year 4 (ages 8&#x2013;9), and a unit about vector graphics for Year 5 (ages 9&#x2013;10).\" class=\"wp-image-84422\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We based the workshop around two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/curriculum\">Computing Curriculum<\/a> units that cover digital literacy skills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In order to plan how the resources in these units of work could be made culturally relevant for the participating teachers\u2019 contexts, the groups used a checklist of <a href=\"https:\/\/computingeducationresearch.org\/supporting-culturally-responsive-computing-teaching-in-uk-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ten areas of opportunity<\/a>. This checklist is a result of one of our previous research projects on culturally relevant pedagogy. Each group used the list to identify a variety of ways in which the units\u2019 learning objectives, activities, learning materials, and slides could be adapted. Teachers noted down their ideas and then discussed them with their group to jointly agree a plan for adapting the unit.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the day, the groups had designed four really creative plans for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A Year 4 unit on photo editing that included creating an animal to represent cultural identity<\/li>\n<li>A Year 4 unit on photo editing that included creating a collage all about yourself\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>A Year 5 unit on vector graphics that guided learners to create their own metaverse and then add it to the class multiverse<\/li>\n<li>A Year 5 unit on vector graphics that contextualised the digital skills by using them in online activities and in video games<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outcomes from the workshop<\/h2>\n<p>Before and after the workshop, we asked the teachers to fill in a survey about themselves, their experiences of creating computing resources, and their views about culturally relevant resources. We then compared the two sets of data to see whether anything had changed over the course of the workshop.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/mg_8052jpg_28990357925_o-500x333-1.jpg\" alt=\"A teacher attending a training workshop laughs as she works through an activity.\" class=\"wp-image-27482\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The workshop was a positive experience for the teachers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>After teachers had attended the workshop, they reported a statistically significant increase in their confidence levels to adapt resources to be culturally relevant for both themselves and others.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Teachers explained that the workshop had increased their understanding of culturally relevant pedagogy and of how it could impact on learners. For example, one teacher said:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cThe workshop has developed my understanding of how culturally adapted resources can support pupil progress and engagement. It has also highlighted how contextual appropriateness of resources can help children to access resources.\u201d  \u2013 Participating teacher<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Some teachers also highlighted how important it had been to talk to teachers from other schools during the workshop, and how they could put their new knowledge into practice in the classroom:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cThe dedicated time and value added from peer discourse helped make this authentic and not just token activities to check a box.\u201d \u2013 Participating teacher<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t wait to take some of the work back and apply it to other areas and subjects I teach.\u201d  \u2013 Participating teacher<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you can expect to see next from this project<\/h2>\n<p>After our research team made the adaptations to the units set out in the four plans made during the workshop, the adapted units were delivered by the teachers to more than 500 Year 4 and 5 pupils. We visited some of the teachers\u2019 schools to see the units being taught, and we have interviewed all the teachers about their experience of delivering the adapted materials. This observational and interview data, together with additional survey responses, will be analysed by us, and we\u2019ll share the results over the coming months.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/IMG_1058-500x333-1.jpg\" alt=\"A computing classroom filled with learners\" class=\"wp-image-32214\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">As part of the project, we observed teachers delivering the adapted units to their learners.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In our next blog post about this work, we will delve into the fascinating realm of parental attitudes to culturally relevant computing, and we\u2019ll explore how embracing diversity in the digital landscape is shaping the future for both children and their families.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve also written about this professional development activity in more detail in a paper to be published at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukicer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UKICER conference<\/a> in September, and we\u2019ll share the paper once it\u2019s available.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, we are grateful to Cognizant for funding this academic research, and to our cohort of primary computing teachers for their enthusiasm, energy, and creativity, and their commitment to this project.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/blog\/research-teacher-workshop-culturally-relevant-computing-lessons\/\">Running a workshop with teachers to create culturally relevant Computing lessons<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\">Raspberry Pi Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<br \/>\nSource: Raspberry Pi &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/blog\/research-teacher-workshop-culturally-relevant-computing-lessons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Running a workshop with teachers to create culturally relevant Computing lessons<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who chooses to study Computing? In England, data from GCSE and A level Computer Science entries in 2019 shows that the answer is complex. Black Caribbean students were one of the most underrepresented groups in the subject, while pupils from &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1157637\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1157638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,110],"tags":[5],"class_list":["post-1157637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rpi","category-unfiltered-rss","tag-rpi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1157637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1157637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1157637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1157638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1157637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1157637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1157637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}