New Voices and New Visions for Engaging Native Americans in Computer Science Evaluation of Student Perspectives By Tiffany S. Lee Native American Studies, UNM

Who am I? Diné from Crystal, NM and Lakota from Pine Ridge, SD PhD in Sociology of Education from Stanford Asst. Professor, NAS Research & teach courses on language and education Former HS teacher, coach

Evaluation Purpose and Process Aim for each evaluation was on learning student perspectives Focus groups, questionnaires with UNM college student cohort in early Fall 2006, end Fall 2006, and end Spring 2007 Interviews, Focus groups, questionnaires with Walatowa HS student cohort in early Fall 2007 and end Spring 2008

College Student Cohort Majority had average computer skills (Self-rated computer skills at beginning to average - except 2) Half had art experience or courses All felt computers extremely important; integrating art would be meaningful and appropriate

Post-Assessment College student cohort End of 06-07, rated comp skills at average to above average Remaining indicators unchanged (interest in CS, its importance, meaningfulness of integration of art…) Above average ratings Team teaching very helpful, strongly satisfied with overall academic experience

Student Perspectives It was nice to do artwork on a computer and do that while surrounded by indigenous people. I loved all the software that we were taught but wasn’t too fond of Logo. The instructors were really helpful but at times you wished they were here in person to sort of walk/talk you through things. This class setting and all that we were involved with – so much fun. I would definitely have or take another class that is similar

Doing stuff visually with graphics [was where the student had most success], rather than doing code with Logo; programming was challenging. It’s a good program but hard for me. It was a really good class. Sometime you didn’t want to come, sometimes you did, but it was always fun, interesting class, the environment was fun, being surrounded by Native American students made it comfortable. You could hang out, but the work always got done.

Art and CS The duality of both of them work hand in hand. It gives artists the opportunity to utilize another medium as another tool to communicate our ideas and express ourselves or our communities, or just who we are and where we come from. We can incorporate elements of our culture for teaching our young people, like our stories or other things that otherwise we wouldn’t be able to use a computer as a medium to do. It’s really helpful and important and it’s not hindering anything

High School Cohort Basic computer skills (hs courses; self rated as average - graphics below avg) Art experience and knowledge from home Game designing interests Required course Unsure about field of CS and integration of Native art Native Language important for learning

Post-Assessment High School cohort More positive attitude and greater enthusiasm for the course Higher importance to CS Skill avg dropped, perhaps greater understanding & appreciation Maintained high ratings toward use of Towa in learning Overall, positive experience, proud of what they learned

Integration of Art Useful for the future Use computers and art integration to teach youth their history Beneficial to community Will make Native art more interesting and relevant to youth who like computers Content useful for careers in gaming and architecture

Conclusion Succeeded in greater interest & sense of self-efficacy among students in CS Showed relevancy to Native art through integration Created an engaging learning environment with team teaching, hands on learning, and Indigenous peers and language in class Succeeded in creating a new interdisciplinary model