Generative AI (GenAI) has become ubiquitous, yet many students still lack meaningful access to learning about what it is and how it works. With Stuart Foundation funding, Girls Who Code and UCLA’s Computer Science Equity Project conducted a study in 2024 to investigate how adolescents are making sense of GenAI and its impacts on their identities, futures, and actions.
Transforming Access: The Computer Science Equity Project at UCLA
The UCLA Computer Science Equity Project works to make computer science education fair for all students by studying gaps and creating programs that help schools include everyone. They work with teachers, families, and students to make sure everyone, especially those who’ve been left out, can learn computer science and have good chances for college and careers.
Why Translation Matters: Transforming Power On! Into ¡Conectados!
Jane Margolis and Jean Ryoo explain how they translated their graphic novel Power On! into Spanish as ¡Conectados! to make its narrative on equity in computer science more accessible, particularly in places like Los Angeles where many students speak Spanish at home. The post emphasizes that simply translating research isn’t enough; culturally and linguistically relevant materials are essential to truly serve and empower all communities in tech education.
Spanish-language Press Coverage for our Computer Science Graphic Novel
The MIT Press compiled articles covering the Spanish-language translation of the Power On! graphic novel, authored by Center X researchers Jane Margolis and Jean Ryoo.
Intersectionality: The Skeleton Key to Success in CS
Sharisa Chan, Associate Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development in our Computer Science Equity Project, explores how embracing educators’ and students’ diverse identities can unlock their potential in computer science (CS) education.
The Positive Impacts of Computer Science: What Every Teacher and Administrator Should Know
Sharisa Chan, Associate Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development in our Computer Science Equity Project, highlights how integrating computer science (CS) into education can transform student learning and engagement.
In the age of AI, students urgently need access to computer science
Julie Flapan, Director of our Computer Science Equity Project, argues that all students need access to the foundational learning that computer science provides. Computer science can help students grapple with the good and bad of technology, including effects of social media, biased algorithms that lead to inequitable outcomes, and controversial issues around privacy and disinformation that influence our democracy.
CS Equity Project Founder Jane Margolis Featured in “Alta / A Human Atlas”
Jane Margolis, a UCLA research scientist emerita known for her work on systemic segregation and inequality in education, has been featured in “Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels,” a social impact art project by artist Marcus Lyon and The Getty Conservation Institute. This project highlights 100 Los Angeles County individuals effecting positive change.
Optimizing for Equity in Computer Science Education
Computer Science Equity Project Director Julie Flapan highlights the critical need for equitable access to computer science (CS) education in K-12 schools, emphasizing the importance of preparing teachers, developing a relevant curriculum, and addressing systemic inequalities. This commentary outlines seven policy recommendations for California to ensure high-quality CS education, providing underrepresented students with the skills needed in a technology-driven world.
4 ways Google is investing in STEM education in Los Angeles
Google is funding our research to analyze family and community involvement in CS education equity across California, helping people understand the impact on underrepresented students.