Abstract:

In this session, you’ll hear stories about the recent history of CS K-12 education and advocacy from someone who has been around a long time and knows where all the bodies are buried. Starting by setting CS education in the larger education context, Stephenson will explore behind-the-scenes aspects of our largely unknown history, beginning with the unlikely founding of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). She’ll also detail some of the unsung s/heroes responsible for our biggest victories. Stephenson will explore a few of the reasons why advocating for CS education at all education levels is so challenging and why doing so is more important than ever. Finally, she’ll offer suggestions to first-time SIGCSE attendees on how to use this conference as a stepping stone to professional and personal success and possible rabble rousing.

Bio:

Dr. Chris Stephenson is a Computer Science Education Strategy Consultant for Google. Prior to her full-time retirement in 2022, she was Google’s the Head of Computer Science Education Strategy, working with Google teams and external computer science organizations globally to support rigorous education research and to improve computer science teaching and learning. From 2004 to 2014, Stephenson was the founding Executive Director of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), a professional membership organization dedicated to improving K-12 computing education. Previously, she held positions at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto. Stephenson has consulted on the development of computer science learning standards in many countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. She has also served in volunteer leadership roles in multiple computer science education organizations. She currently serves as past-chair of the ACM Education Board, on the csedresearch.org Board of Directors, and on the Computing at Schools Board (UK). She also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Inroads Magazine and is a Distinguished Member of ACM. Stephenson has numerous research publications in the field of computer science and computer engineering education.