Bringing Politics and Power into Computing Education (Part 2)

As coding becomes more prominent in K-16 learning spaces, how do we as educators contend with computing’s history and issues surrounding power and ethics? With issues like algorithmic bias, the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement to target Black and Latinx communities, and a history of racist and sexist cultures within computing as a discipline, it is clear that computing and computing education have always been political. As we continue offering computing learning opportunities that are connected to youth’s interests and nurture meaningful relationships through community building, we must provide opportunities for youth to be civically engaged with the politics issues of computing. The purpose of this 2-day symposium is to connect educators, researchers, and organizations committed to engaging these concerns as well as create opportunities for sustainable networking, future collaborations, and solidarity building. On the first day, there will be a poster session where participants can hear from a range of groups in diverse spaces (e.g., formal classrooms, informal learning, community-based programs, etc.) whose work addresses engaging learners with politics, history and ethics in computing. On the second day, presenters and participants will participate in critical conversations about the major questions and challenges surrounding this educational need. Lastly, workshop participants will create a virtual network space for connecting, sharing knowledge and resources, and collaborating after the workshop.