The Role of Relationships in Engaging Latino/a High School Students in Computer Science

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic minority population in the United States but are underrepresented in computing-related majors and fields. Most efforts to broaden participation in computer science lack a cultural and contextual perspective, and focus on building individual competencies and motivation. In this paper, we propose that a greater understanding of relationships is critical to inform efforts to increase the interest and build the computational skills of Latino/a youth to enter and persist in a computing education pathway. The focus of this study is on a community technology center that serves primarily Latino/a youth in an agricultural region of California. The primary research question was “What is the role of relationships in Latino/a students' interest in computer science?” Data were collected from high school students (97 surveys and 20 in-depth interviews), and from center staff (6 in-depth interviews). The findings show how relationships help students connect computer science to cultural values by forming communities of practice around CS with similar peers and mentors.