Jane Margolis - Education, Race and Computing

Jane Margolis, a senior researcher at UCLA, discusses her work on educational inequality, focusing on computer science. She began her research at Carnegie Mellon, studying the low number of women in computer science. Her findings led her to explore racial and gender disparities in Los Angeles schools, revealing significant access issues. Margolis highlights the role of belief systems and 'preparatory privilege' in perpetuating inequality. She developed the 'Exploring Computer Science' course to address these issues, which has become a national model. Her book, 'Stuck in the Shallow End,' draws parallels between racial segregation in swimming and computer science.

What was the initial percentage of women studying computer science at Carnegie Mellon University when Jane Margolis began her research?

• 25%

• 42%

• 7%

• 15%

What was a significant finding about computer science education in predominantly African American and Latino schools in Los Angeles?

• They had equal access to computer science resources.

• They had more computer science teachers than other schools.

• They only offered basic typing and internet searching classes.

• They had advanced computer science courses.

What stereotype did educators hold about students who would excel in computer science?

• Students from rural areas.

• Female students.

• White or male students with innate talent.

• Students interested in arts.

What is 'preparatory privilege' as discussed in the research?

• The ability to learn computer science without any resources.

• The privilege of being naturally talented in computer science.

• The privilege of attending a private school.

• The advantage of having prior exposure to computer science resources.

What was the purpose of the 'Exploring Computer Science' course developed by Jane Margolis and her team?

• To replace traditional computer science courses in all schools.

• To focus solely on programming skills.

• To introduce computer science in a relevant way to underserved students.

• To provide advanced computer science training to elite students.

Which cities have adopted the 'Exploring Computer Science' program?

• Los Angeles, Chicago, New York

• Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix

• Houston, Dallas, Seattle

• San Francisco, Miami, Boston

What statistic about swimming did the research team find that paralleled issues in computer science education?

• White kids have less access to swimming pools.

• African American kids drown three times more than white kids.

• African American kids swim more frequently than white kids.

• Swimming is equally accessible to all races.

What historical factor contributed to the disparity in swimming access for African American communities?

• Lack of interest in swimming.

• Segregation laws preventing access to public swimming pools.

• Higher cost of swimming lessons.

• Preference for other sports.

What is the main goal of the initiatives discussed in the video?

• To increase the number of computer science teachers.

• To integrate computer science education and provide equal opportunities for all students.

• To create more technology-rich schools.

• To focus on programming languages only.

What is the title of the book that discusses the research findings?

• Breaking Barriers in Education

• Stuck in the Shallow End: Education, Race, and Computing

• The Future of Computer Science

• Equality in Education