From Workshops to Classrooms: Faculty Experiences with Implementing Inclusive Design Principles
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Grant: NSF
Dahana Moz Ruiz
College:
The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Major:
Computer Science
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Patricia Morreale
Abstract:
Computer science (CS) and information technology (IT) curricula are grounded in theoretical and technical skills. Topics like equity and inclusive design are rarely found in mainstream student studies. This results in graduates with outdated practices and limitations in software development. A research project was conducted to educate the faculty to integrate inclusive software design into the CS undergraduate curriculum. The objective is to produce graduates with the ability to develop inclusive software.
This experience report presents the results of teaching inclusive design throughout the four-year CS and IT curriculum, focusing on the impact on faculty. This easy-to-adopt, high-impact approach improved student retention and classroom climate, broadening
participation. Research questions address faculty understanding of inclusive software design, the approach's feasibility, improvement in students’ ability to design equitable software, and assessment of the inclusiveness culture for students in computing programs.
Faculty attended a summer workshop to learn about inclusive design and update their teaching materials to include the GenderMag method. Beginning in CS0 and CS1 and continuing through Senior Capstone, faculty used updated course assignments to include inclusive design in 10 courses for 44 sections taught.