abstract: 'Unequal access to quality learning opportunities is a key issue that

  shapes who is able to participate in computing relevant communities and

  jobs {[}1]. Although many educators, government officials, and business

  professionals acknowledge the need to provide computer science education

  to all youth, access to computing opportunities is still limited {[}2].

  Understanding the current state of available learning opportunities is

  an initial step in addressing gaps, barriers, and unequal access. In

  this poster we present our in-progress mapping of the computer science

  ecosystem in the city of Chicago. As we present the landscape we ask:

  How accessible are the educational opportunities for youth in Chicago,

  particularly youth who are traditionally underrepresented in computing

  careers. The barriers to participation revealed through our mapping

  process include transportation, the time schedules of programs, and the

  lack of opportunities for elementary youth. Our findings suggest that in

  order to broaden participation in computing there is a need to 1)

  increase the number of local computing opportunities, and 2) to create

  opportunities that acknowledge the realities facing low-income and

  working class households, realities that include child care constraints,

  rigid work schedules, and limited disposable income.'
affiliation: 'Acholonu, U (Corresponding Author), Depaul Univ, Coll Comp \& Digital
  Media, Chicago, IL 60604 USA.

  Acholonu, Ugochi; Pingrey, Katie; Pinkard, Nichole; Martin, Caitlin K., Depaul Univ,
  Coll Comp \& Digital Media, Chicago, IL 60604 USA.'
author: Acholonu, Ugochi and Pingrey, Katie and Pinkard, Nichole and Martin, Caitlin
  K.
author_list:
- family: Acholonu
  given: Ugochi
- family: Pingrey
  given: Katie
- family: Pinkard
  given: Nichole
- family: Martin
  given: Caitlin K.
booktitle: '2015 RESEARCH IN EQUITY AND SUSTAINED PARTICIPATION IN ENGINEERING,

  COMPUTING, AND TECHNOLOGY (RESPECT)'
da: '2023-09-28'
editor: Barnes, T and Thiruvathukal, GK and Boyer, K and Forbes, J and Payton, J
files: []
isbn: 978-1-5090-0151-4
language: English
note: 'Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering Computing

  and Technology, Charlotte, NC, AUG 13-14, 2015'
number-of-cited-references: '2'
papis_id: c9695331f4e92ff4612a0a19da8a9f8f
ref: Acholonu2015uncoveringbarriers
times-cited: '0'
title: Uncovering barriers to participation through mapping citywide computing opportunities
  in Chicago What do we mean by access?
type: Proceedings Paper
unique-id: WOS:000380474100026
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '0'
web-of-science-categories: 'Computer Science, Theory \& Methods; Education \& Educational
  Research;

  Education, Scientific Disciplines; Education, Special'
year: '2015'