The Power of Encouragement

I recently heard an expression used in the context of overcoming the diversity issues in the IT and computing fields - what we need to combat the lack of diversity are 'circuit breakers' or practices that can truly break the cycle, or circuit of inequity. Put together with Google's CS research paper "Encouraging Students Toward Computer Science Learning" and a book called the Power of Our Words, I came across a circuit breaker that is so powerful, yet so overlooked - the power of encouragement. Consider the following from Google's paper - that students who have been encouraged by a teacher or parent are three times more likely to be interested in learning CS. Here's the clincher though - that not all kids do not have the same likelihood of receiving this critical encouragement. The report highlights the role that unintentional biases in well-intentioned parents and the very best of teachers have that in turn lead to inequity in terms of expectations, instructional practice, and encouragement. From the report, for example, boys are nearly twice as likely as girls to report that a parent has told them that they would be good at CS.

So where does this journey begin? I believe a critical first step is reflecting on one's own biases and as an educator, it means thinking about hard questions such as: Who do I believe can or cannot learn computer science? From there, it goes to reflecting on one's own teaching practice and curriculum - is it responsive to all students' needs or does it only cater to a select, 'advanced' few who have already had a head start with computing anyway? Encouraging comes in many forms in the classroom. It comes in the form of words and communicating to every student that sense of "I believe in you and that you are a creative problem-solver with the ability to change the world with your incredible ideas." It comes from providing them with role models and mentors who can show them that they can do CS through programs like Technolochicas that elevate the voice of Latina women and inspire more to pursue computing pathways.

Our words are powerful - in the words of Yehuda Berg:
“Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.”