Julie Flapan Receives Fulbright Specialist Award
By John McDonald, UCLA School of Ed & IS News UCLA computer science equity scholar to support project at the Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University, Thailand Julie Flapan, director…
Why parents need to understand AI: Ensuring ethical tech use in schools
As AI becomes unavoidable in schools, parents must understand AI and computer science so they can help their children use technology responsibly and advocate for better, equitable education. AI literacy—including awareness of ethics, bias, and risks—is essential for students, and informed parents play a key role in supporting this learning.
From novices to advocates: Stanislaus County parents want more computer science classes in schools
Parents in California’s Central Valley are participating in training sessions that teach technology skills and empower them to advocate for stronger computer science education in their children’s schools. The program aims to close the digital divide by helping parents understand technology, support their children’s learning, and push school leaders to expand access to computer science courses.
Youth & AI: What Young Women Think About Generative AI
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.