The LEGACY project recruited four cohorts (94 Black young women) from 29 High Schools across the state of Alabama (AL) for year-long preparatory experiences to promote student success in the College Board AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) course and exam. Residential summer institutes at the University of Alabama (UA) and Tuskegee University (TU) immersed students in inquiry-based, collaborative, and culturally-responsive project-based AP CSP activities facilitated by four highly experienced Black women (Teacher Leaders [TLs] from AL). The TLs mentored the students as they explored the AP CSP Big Ideas, acquired core Computational Thinking Practices and worked on their AP CSP portfolio projects (Create Performance Tasks [PTs]). Intertwined with its academic activities, LEGACY created a peer community of Black young women AP CSP learners. Social media (e.g., texting groups) maintained this network through the academic year, as students completed the AP CSP course in their home high schools. During the academic year, students participated in five study sessions on various AP CSP topics and also virtually met with the four TLs six times. The study sessions and TL webinars continued the student collaboration while participating across the whole state geography. A culminating event each year brought each cohort back for an NCWIT Aspirations award ceremony where the previous cohort inspired the next cohort who was just arriving for their first summer experience. Interactions with Black women computer science (CS) professionals added to the role modeling opportunities for the LEGACY students, building their identification with CS and CS career awareness. Students in need also received resources (e.g., loaned laptops, AP CSP exam fee) to mitigate barriers that often hinder talents from historically underrepresented communities to reach their full potential in CS and other STEM careers.

The AP CSP curriculum is based on equity and broadening participation as the course’s primary goals. In the first three cohorts of LEGACY (2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23; suspension of the program for 2020-21 due to the Pandemic), 71.8% of students obtained a qualifying score (3 or above), which is higher than the 2022 National passing rate of 63.3% [22] (see attached figure and SIGCSE paper referenced below). This suggests that LEGACY’s preparatory model promotes deep learning of CS concepts, culminating in stellar performance in the AP CSP exam. Students exhibited significant gains in computational thinking (developing computer programs and using pattern matching to solve computational problems), identification with CS, and desire to pursue careers that are computing-based. Follow-up interviews with past students currently in college revealed that a significant number of LEGACY alumnae chose to pursue STEM careers, and credit their participation in LEGACY with giving them the confidence to persist in their chosen college major despite encountering challenges. Additional information about the LEGACY project can be found at http://legacy.ua.edu

Reference:

Martha Escobar, Jeff Gray, Kathleen Haynie, Mohammed Qazi, Yasmeen Rawajfih, Pamela McClendon, Donnita Tucker, and Wendy Johnson, “Engaging Black Female Students in a Year-Long Preparatory Experience for AP CS Principles,” ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), virtual – Toronto, Canada, March 2021, pp. 706-724.

Images: 

• LEGACY Logic Model

• LEGACY Project Outcomes

• LEGACY Project Outputs

• LEGACY Cohort 1-3 AP CSP qualifying scores

• LEGACY Cohort 1 Mentor Encouraging Final Cohort

• LEGACY Final LEGACY Ceremony Photo

Last Modified: 01/06/2024
Modified by: Jeffrey G Gray