“What Happens to the Raspado man in a Cash-free Society?”: Teaching and Learning Socially Responsible Computing

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Jean J. Ryoo ◽  
Alicia Morris ◽  
Jane Margolis

The Computer Science for All movement is bringing CS to K-12 classrooms across the nation. At the same time, new technologies created by computer scientists have been reproducing existing inequities that directly impact today's youth, while being “promoted and perceived as more objective or progressive than the discriminatory systems of a previous era” [1, p. 5–6]. Current efforts are being made to expose students to the social impact and ethics of computing at both the K-12 and university-level—which we refer to as “socially responsible computing” (SRC) in this paper. Yet there is a lack of research describing what such SRC teaching and learning actively involve and look like, particularly in K-12 classrooms. This paper fills this gap with findings from a research-practice partnership, through a qualitative study in an Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles classroom enrolling low-income Latino/a/x students from a large urban community. The findings illustrate 1) details of teaching practice and student learning during discussions about SRC; 2) the impact these SRC experiences have on student engagement with CS; 3) a teacher's reflections on key considerations for effective SRC pedagogy; and 4) why students’ perspectives and agency must be centered through SRC in computing education.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-176
Author(s):  
Kellie Schneider ◽  
Diana Cuy Castellanos ◽  
Felix Fernando ◽  
Jeanne A. Holcomb

Food deserts, areas in which it is difficult to obtain affordable, nutritious food, are especially problematic in low-income neighbourhoods. One model for addressing food hardship and unemployment issues within low-income food deserts is a cooperative grocery store. Through the cooperative model, the grocery store can serve as a cornerstone to address socio-economic marginalisation of low-income neighbourhoods and improve the health and well-being of its residents. It is important for communities and policymakers to be able to assess the effectiveness of these types of endeavours beyond traditional economic factors such as profitability. This article uses a systems engineering approach to develop a framework for measuring the holistic impact of a cooperative grocery store on community health and well-being. This framework encompasses values that characterise the relationship between food retail, economic viability and social equality. We develop a dashboard to display the key metrics for measuring the economic, social and environmental indicators that reflect a grocery store’s social impact. We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework through a case study of a full-service cooperative grocery store that is planned within the city of Dayton, OH.


Author(s):  
Betul C. Czerkawski

It has been more than a decade since Jeanette Wing's (2006) influential article about computational thinking (CT) proposed CT to be a “fundamental skill for everyone” (p. 33) and that needs to be added to every child's knowledge and skill set like reading, writing and arithmetic. Wing suggested that CT is a universal skill, and not only for computer scientists. This call resonated with many educators leading to various initiatives by the International Society for Teacher in Education (ISTE) and Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) provided the groundwork to integrate CT into the K-12 curriculum. While CT is not a new concept and has been taught in computer science departments for decades, Wing's call created a shift towards educational computing and the need for integrating it into curriculum for all. Since 2006, many scholars have conducted empirical or qualitative research to study the what, how and why of CT. This chapter reviews the most current literature and identifies general research patterns, themes and directions for the future. The purpose of the chapter is to emphasize future research needs by cumulatively looking at what has been done to date in computational thinking research. Consequently, the conclusion and discussion section of the paper presents a research agenda for future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-279
Author(s):  
Tine Buffel ◽  
Patty Doran ◽  
Mhorag Goff ◽  
Luciana Lang ◽  
Camilla Lewis ◽  
...  

Purpose This paper aims to explore the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on issues facing older people living in urban areas characterised by multiple deprivation. Design/methodology/approach The paper first reviews the role of place and neighbourhood in later life; second, it examines the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and the impact of COVID-19; and, third, it outlines the basis for an “age-friendly” recovery strategy. Findings The paper argues that COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on low-income communities, which have already been affected by cuts to public services, the loss of social infrastructure and pressures on the voluntary sector. It highlights the need for community-based interventions to be developed as an essential part of future policies designed to tackle the effects of COVID-19. Originality/value The paper contributes to debates about developing COVID-19 recovery strategies in the context of growing inequalities affecting urban neighbourhoods.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Bowman ◽  
Sanga Kim ◽  
Laura Ingleby ◽  
David C. Ford ◽  
Christina Sibaouih

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federal program designed to promote college access and success for students from low-income backgrounds. Although some literature has examined K–12 outcomes, little research has explored the extent to which GEAR UP achieves its intended postsecondary objectives. The present study used a difference-in-differences design with a sample of 17,605 students to explore the impact of GEAR UP Iowa on college enrollment and persistence. The findings indicate that GEAR UP Iowa promotes the college enrollment of high school graduates by 3 to 4 percentage points, whereas it appears to have no effect on college persistence. Results are similar regardless of students’ socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, sex, and K–12 special education status.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 142-152
Author(s):  
Sifat Ullah ◽  
Quazi Farzana

In this an era of technology, new technologies particularly computer, multimedia, mobile phone and the internet offer possibilities for overcoming geographical and cost barriers in teaching and learning. This study attempts to trace the use of technology in teaching English at the S.S.C. (Secondary School Certificate) level in Bangladesh. It also focuses on the impact of using technology in teaching and learning English. Eight teachers and 60 students from four private schools in Dhaka city were selected to survey the use of technology in teaching the English Language. The researchers employed the mixed methods research to carry out the study where two sets of questionnaires for the teachers and the students and a semi-structured interview only for the teachers were used to collect data. The findings showed that using technology in teaching has both the positive and the negative impacts. Teachers like to use technology in their classroom but limited time and lack of training and technical support from the authority hamper the mode of teaching. The students also feel comfortable in technology affiliated classroom, but sometimes they fail to catch the concept clearly as they become inattentive due to the lack of proper engagement of the teachers in the classroom.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany Alden Rivers ◽  
Alejandro Armellini ◽  
Ming Nie

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an attributes framework for embedding “Changemaker” – a university initiative for promoting social innovation and social impact – across the disciplines at the University of Northampton. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on the authors’ (2015) phenomenographic study that proposed five different conceptions of Changemaker held by academic staff: (1) Changemaker as institutional strategy; (2) Changemaker as critical thinking, perspective shifting and problem solving; (3) Changemaker as employability; (4) Changemaker as social betterment; and (5) Changemaker as personal transformation. The present study explores pedagogic literature to identify skills, behaviours and attributes associated with each of these five categories. Findings – Findings from this literature review inform a set of Changemaker attributes, which offers a framework to consider skills and behaviours associated with the five conceptions of Changemaker. Research limitations/implications – The conceptions of Changemaker, that form the basis of the Changemaker attributes, represent the beliefs of teaching staff at the University of Northampton. Despite inherent limitations, the approach of using practice-based empirical findings to develop pedagogical tools may be of direct benefit to other education providers as they develop their own models for teaching and learning. Practical implications – The Changemaker attributes will be used by the University of Northampton during the design, approval and review of courses to ensure that social innovation and social impact is embedded across the disciplines. Academic staff can refer these attributes when designing assessments and for inspiration towards innovative teaching practice. Originality/value – The findings of this study will provide a point of reference for other higher education institutions as they look for guidance on embedding social innovation and social impact into their curriculum.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 156-167
Author(s):  
Nicoleta Sămărescu

The eLearning instruments that have been researched in the last few years represent a necessity for the Romanian primary school also within the development of the alternative learning sources. These cognitive instruments as D.H. Jonassen names them, are utilized in the USA and are researched in other countries, too (France) in order to be implemented. The aim of this article is to implement and to recommend the utilization of electronic models: text and image processing sheets, presentation sheets, spreadsheets in the teaching­learning process in primary school. According to this aim, the research hypothesis has been issued in keeping with which we anticipate to be able to offer a well thought training in the eLearning field by updating the teaching and learning process with the help of the implementation of a set of electronic models which will increase the intercepting coefficient, the motivation, stimulation, imagination and enthusiasm degree for the learning actors and will redefine the teacher-pupil relation. The main objectives which derive from the hypothesis of our study confine to establishing the impact of electronic models of the eLeaming Set that has been proposed to be implemented on the actors primary school in the teaching-learning process; rendering the teaching-learning process efficient by implementing cognitive models with electronic support; working out an operational guide that contains scientific-practical recommendations and lesson models that utilize PeL; enriching the mathematical thinking. The study sample covers a population that wishes to know, to participate in the implementing of the new technologies. The sample was composed as follows: 121 teachers in primary schools, most of them students of the University in Pite


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Torcivia Prusko ◽  
Heather Robinson ◽  
Whitney Kilgore ◽  
Maha Al-Freih

The purpose of this research study is to shift the focus on Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) research by changing the narrative surrounding MOOC effectiveness from issues of course completion and certification to the impact of these courses on participants’ actual practices. The “Humanizing Online Teaching and Learning” or HumanMOOC was offered four times with 2,614 participants overall and covered topics on the elements of the Community of Inquiry framework: social presence, teaching presence, and cognitive presence. Through phenomenological inquiry, literature review, demographics, survey and interviews, the researchers gathered and analyzed information from learners who completed the HumanMOOC. Three themes of the interviews that emerged from the coding analysis process are: learning journeyers, I think I can, and bringing it back to the classroom. The intention to participate and to overcome barriers, and the increase in self-efficacy as a result of personal accomplishment, impacted the participants’ will to implement what was learned into their teaching practice.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 2-4
Author(s):  
Geraldine E. Lefoe ◽  

Welcome to the third and final issue of Volume 8 of the Journal of University Teaching and Learning (JUTLP) in 2011. As the year draws to a close we are seeing some striking changes to the higher education sector internationally. In England budget cuts have seen the closure of the twenty-four Higher Education Academy subject centres at the same time as the establishment of student fees. In Australia the cap has been lifted across the board on the number of students that can be enrolled in universities with the resultant projected increased student numbers. The focus in Australia is on social inclusion yet in England the concern for the introduction of fees is just the opposite, these will be the very students who may now be excluded. The changes in both countries see new measures of accountability and more complex regulations put in place. Will this cause people to rethink the way we teach and the way students learn? For the Higher Education Academy in the UK, new directions see the hosting of a summit on learning and teaching with a focus on flexible learning, an indicator of new directions for many institutions. In Australia, we see a renewed opportunity to investigate such changes through the opening of the Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) and its role of recognising the importance of learning and teaching through grants and awards schemes. We hope in 2012 we’ll hear more from our authors about the impact of these transformations, as well as those changes occurring in other countries around the world, on teaching practice in our universities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Giovanna Truyts Biscardi ◽  
João Marcelo Rondina

The Y generation is understood as that born under the influence of the digital technologies. Now it’s represented by the young university students that created such a tight bond with the internet and its tools that uses them easily and frequently. Many works say that this generation of immediate young people accustomed to multitasking has developed a new kind of neuroplasticity entirely different of their antecessors and therefore possess peculiar habits and mechanisms of learning that should be respected and considered in the dynamics of teaching and learning, creating a pressure in the educational institutions to adequate in this reality. However, there are a few studies evaluating the real existence of these characteristics. Thus, we preset the conclusions of this descriptive qualitative project fulfilled with medicine students at Faculdade de Medicina de São José Rio Preto that aim to know how these students use digital technologies and the impact of their habits and behaviors regarding the involvement with technologies in their studies. The conclusion was that technologies are an important influence on student’s lifes, however continues to be one among several others, which allows the teachers to keep a fundamental role in the formation of these digital natives, especially helping and guiding them in the correct and full use of new technologies developed for learning.


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