MOMENTUM
Our work at Momentum is inspired by the reality that, despite growing demand for a technologically-trained workforce and increasing popularity of tech majors and careers, women and people of color remain marginalized in tech fields, with many equity gaps actually becoming larger with time.
Momentum aims to accelerate equity in computing and technology through the generation of new knowledge about what works (and what does not) in diversifying the tech workforce, with a special focus on educational pathways.
Simply put, it is critical to achieve greater Momentum.
CIC 1st Follow-up Survey was sent April 27!
Momentum is excited to announce the successful distribution of the first Follow-up survey for the CIC longitudinal research project. This survey is designed to track the progress of computing students toward their degrees, their interactions with faculty and peers, and their professional career aspirations. We look forward to gathering valuable insights from the survey data to accelerate equity in computing and technology.
To learn more about the CIC project, click the button below.
New NSF Funding to Support Institutional Data Program
The National Science Foundation has awarded Momentum funding to pilot an expansion of the current enrollment and degree attainment (EDA) data program. With this new funding we will build from our experiences working with BRAID schools to recruit up to 5 institutions that may be newer to BPC work. We will work with them to collect and analyze their EDA data in preparation for their engagement with BPC-centered programs, such as those offered by the Center for Inclusive Computing (CIC) at Northeastern University or the National Center for Women & Information Technology.
New Enrollment and Degree Attainment Data
Over the past seven years, UCLA’s Momentum (formerly known as BRAID Research) has studied the BRAID initiative, a broadening participation in computing (BPC) effort co-led by AnitaB.org and Harvey Mudd College. The team collected undergraduate computing enrollment and degree attainment (EDA) data, broken out by gender and race/ethnicity, to examine whether and to what extent BRAID institutions narrowed participation gaps. Click the button below to learn more.
RESEARCH ON
AP CS PRINCIPLES
Working with our colleagues at the University of Oregon, the Momentum team has conducted research on the characteristics of students who take AP CS Principles and whether taking that course (versus the traditional AP CS “A” course) predicts longer-term interest in computing majors or careers. Findings show that although the “Principles” course enrolls a more diverse group of students, the course is less likely than the traditional course to predict students’ aspirations for majors or careers in computing and technology.
