An Immersive Virtual Experience to Drive Change in Computer Science Education

In a conference paper titled “An Immersive Virtual Experience to Drive Change in Computer Science Education,” presented at the Conference for Research on Equitable and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT) in 2021, authors David Amiel and Cynthia L. Blitz of the Rutgers Center for Effective School Practices share an experience report about implementing the multi-day Summer Institute professional development retreat for educators that included strategic planning on issues of equity and rigor in computer science education. They also discuss the ways the event was modified to a virtual experience.

The goals for development and execution of the virtual Summit Institute were to:
• Address current challenges faced by teachers during the pandemic
• Conduct meaningful professional learning tailored to high school teachers, administrators, and school counselors with varying CSE experience, avoiding information-overload
• Provide uncompromising virtual substitutes for in-person networking, relationship-building, and collaboration spaces
• Facilitate strategic planning to spark initiatives that reach underrepresented studentsThe paper includes a 

Reflections section that is split into Participant Takeaways and Lessons Learned, the latter of which is further organized into the following recommendations:
1) Go thoughtfully virtual
2) Flexible scheduling
3) Utilize breakout rooms
4) Structure conversations
5) Mediate knowledge-transfer
6) Think bigger (geographically)