RPPforCS Spotlight: Rutgers Computer Science Teaching and Learning Collaboratory

The Rutgers Computer Science Teaching and Learning Collaboratory (CS-TLC) spotlight presents a research practice partnership designed to address underrepresentation and disparities in computer science education. The NSF-funded project, launched in 2018, partnered with school districts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with the core belief that supporting teacher capacity through professional learning and collaborative partnerships would enable educators to better meet the needs of their diverse student bodies. The project emphasized involving both teachers and administrators to ensure sustainable change beyond individual classrooms, and during 2020, it pivoted to focus more on engaging all students in remote computer science education in response to the pandemic.

The project implemented a comprehensive support system including monthly research practice partnership meetings, online discussion boards, asynchronous professional development modules based on CSTA standards, and annual summer institutes. Through extensive data collection including teacher and administrator surveys, key informant interviews, and regular feedback sessions, the project sought to identify best practices for increasing CS educator capacity, facilitating productive relationships among educators across districts, and understanding sustainable mechanisms for knowledge sharing. The spotlight concludes with three key strategies for CS education: bringing administrators to the table as valuable partners, providing professional development at teachers' own pace, and remaining curriculum-agnostic to complement existing CS resources rather than creating restrictive learning experiences.