Coding Crew - peer to peer inspiration and learning

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

By now, parents and students understand that workforce readiness requires some computer science training. Despite being in a digital age, a significant gap remains between available educational resources and the needs of low-income communities. There is a significant shortage of classes and teachers in this area for grades 6-8. Many educators have not received the specialized training needed to teach computer science concepts. Current statistics from the Los Angeles Unified School District reveal that only 20% of seniors are proficient in STEAM to excel in higher education or enter the STEM workforce without additional training. This shortfall is worse in BIPOC and low-income communities, where access to quality STEM education can be scarce. Sparking an interest in Computer Science before high school is critical for students to choose those courses and have confidence to thrive in them. Coding Crew leverages peer relationships and imagination to create dynamic and impactful learning.

Coding Crew empowers middle school students to teach their younger peers how to code. The flexible workshops accommodate 20-40 students, with 8th graders instructing 6th graders in a peer-to-peer model. Peer Teachers take a 2-hour training, then lead younger students through 10 hours of content as a 2-day boot camp intensive or a 5-week or 10-week program. Beyond coding, the program trains student teachers in essential techniques like active listening, constructive feedback, and peer encouragement. This dual focus imparts coding knowledge and cultivates broadly applicable leadership skills. The program concludes with a 'Community Arcade' where students showcase their computer games to family and friends, building confidence and pride while launching their journey as makers and educators in computer science. Currently operating in 9 schools and education programs, Coding Crew impacts 200 students annually. After two successful years, we're poised for expansion, particularly in under-resourced areas of LA County. Our goal is to reach 1,000 students yearly, exponentially scaling our impact and inspiring every child to become a creator. Our each one teach one approach will significantly address the shortage of computer science education in grades 6-8, spark early interest in the field, provide quality STEM education to underserved communities, and help us achieve the goal of making Los Angeles a city of creators.

We envision Coding Crew as an integral part of an LA education system in 2050 that centers on empowerment, invention, and equal opportunity. Our effective strategy shifts the perspective that students are only receivers of knowledge to a reality where students are capable knowledge sharers who can reach peers in ways adult educators can’t. Learning to make your own creations instills unshakeable confidence and love for the skills used. The ultimate impact will be a paradigm shift in our assumptions of who can teach as middle schoolers become creators. Eighth graders teach sixth graders, and as sixth graders advance, they become the teachers, and tutors to others outside their classroom. By 2050, a generation of students and teachers will have experienced this peer-learner to student-teacher cycle and the pride of learning to code, creating a game they can enjoy. Acquiring coding skills brings digital agency, and teaching others to be creators puts students on a path to leadership.

We will use the following to evaluate our success: Pre- and post-program surveys will measure changes in students' coding knowledge, interest in computer science, and confidence in their abilities. We'll track the number of students participating, completion rates, and the quantity of projects created. We’ll gather qualitative data through interviews with student teachers, participants, and school staff to assess the program's impact on leadership skills, peer relationships, and overall educational engagement. The Community Arcade events will serve as a showcase for student projects, allowing for direct observation of skill application. Long-term tracking will monitor participants' future course selections in computer science and STEM fields, when the information is accessible. We'll also collect feedback from parents and teachers on observed changes in students' attitudes and behaviors.