CACM logo

This Article

BLOG@CACM

CS Faculty Cause Inequality

[article image]
Georgia Institute of Technology professor Mark Guzdial

Mark Guzdial

September 9, 2009

A series of recent articles suggests that higher education in the United States is actually causing inequality, and that CS faculty play a role in that.

User Comments

 (2)

I teach our CS freshman.

A big problem is that some kids have had what amounts to years of programming experience and computer knowledge, while others don't know what right-click means.

It is really easy for the kids with no computing experience to think "these other kids are 100 times faster than me" which they are "so I must suck at programming" which is wrong.

   — Jose Vidal, September 14, 2009

Hi Jose. I often teach our non-major frosh, and see the same problem that you describe. The NYT article that I referenced suggests that lack of preparation isn't the critical factor influencing too-high failure rates. The attitude you describe is probably a factor. Students' sense that "others are better than me" so "I don't belong" is an often-observed theme in Jane Margolis' and Allan Fisher's book "Unlocking the Clubhouse."

   — Mark Guzdial, September 14, 2009
Post a comment...
Name: Anonymous

Signed and anonymous comments submitted to this site are moderated and will appear if they are relevant to the topic and not abusive. Your comment will appear with your username if you are signed into the site, and will be anonymous if you are not signed in. View our policy on comments

Tools For Readers

Bookmark and Share
Default Font Size Large Font Size X-Large Font Size Text Size

Related ACM Resources

Conferences:

Courses:

More About ACM Resources

In The Digital Library

About Communications | Join ACM External Link | Renew External Link | Subscribe External Link | Sign In | For Authors | For Advertisers External Link | Privacy | Site Map | Help | Contact Us | Mobile Site

Copyright © 2012 by the ACM. All rights reserved.

Back to Top