Foster to Code: Increasing Equity in Computer Science with Psychological Interventions and Active Learning Environments

Abstract

Increasing the number of underrepresented minorities and women in the tech industry is crucial for building better products that incorporate a wider range of perspectives for society. This paper explores four different psychological interventions to break down barriers students tend to face in order for students to feel more comfortable, confident and empowered to continue learning Computer Science. It attempts to shift students' mindsets to growth mindsets, increase students' intrinsic motivation, help students become more aware of their learning styles, and provide an active learning environment for them to practice the concepts. The goal of the interventions is to increase the students' interest, motivation, and resilience in the course. This paper describes the design and implementation of a website that provides feasible steps to overcome four different barriers students tend to face in the introductory computer science course. The results were positive and provided insight on future applications in classrooms that can benefit those underrepresented in the tech field.