A multidisciplinary team from UNLV's Computer Science and Teaching & Learning departments was awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) grant under the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program. The team included: Edward Jorgensen (Computer Science), Marla Goins (Teaching & Learning), Oswaldo "Ben" Cisnero Merino (Computer Science), Jorge Fonseca (Computer Science), Yingtao Jiang (Engineering), Kazem Taghva, PI (Computer Science), Dr. Christine Clark (CTeaching & Learning), Tiberio Garza (College of Education, Florida International University)
Description:
Advancing Equitable Teaching Practices to Social and Academic Outcomes for Latinx Students in Computer Science
Seeking to support the growth of Latinx enrollment in Computer Science, the grant project is committed to improving retention and graduation rates by enhancing teaching practices and fostering stronger connections between students and faculty.
The project focuses on two key strategies to enhance Latinx students’ enhance social and academic success in the computer science major:
1. Faculty Development: Comprehensive faculty development is crucial in addressing systemic inequities faced by Latinx students. We are equipping Computer Science instructors with the tools to foster Latinx students’ sense of belonging and learning efficacy as they enter the major. Rooted in Critical Multicultural Education (CME), race-conscious Open Educational Resources (rc-OER), and Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT, https://tilthighered.com), faculty learn to build and sustain more inclusive learning environments that proactively affirm the lived experiences of Latinx students.
2. Co-Curricular Engagement: Intentionally and uniquely responsive relationship-building activities aid faculty in cultivating and maintaining departmental and classroom climates and cultures that ensure Latinx students’ social and emotional well-being within the Computer Science program community.
By utilizing TILT techniques, developed by Dr. Mary-Ann Winkelmes (https://www.tilthighered.com/about/meet-the-team), informed by race-conscious educational equity practices, the project seeks to equip faculty to better clarify learning processes with students. Research on TILT documents improved academic outcomes, particularly for first-generation college students.
The effectiveness of the project's interventions will be measured through mixed methods (survey and interview) research, and findings will be disseminated via conferences, publications, and the project website.
In sum, the project aims to transform Computer Science education at UNLV and other HSIs by creating the conditions for educational equity and inclusivity to grow, ultimately empowering underrepresented students, especially those from intersectionally-diverse Latinx communities, to succeed and thrive in STEM fields. By transforming teaching practices and building supportive learning environments, this project contributes to the establishment of new standards for socially just STEM education across the nation.
