Vukica Jovanovic | API Profile

Vukica

Jovanovic

Old Dominion University

My Conference Goal:

To meet my future collaborators.
To learn more about how to get my proposals selected for funding.

My Project Goal:

The main starting point is from the assumption that if we want to address the problems of underrepresented students, one should address the problems that teachers face.
I am working with local urban public schools in the region: Norfolk Public Schools and Tidewater Community College on multiple funded projects to strengthen the educational pathways. Norfolk Public Schools is the first public school system in the Commonwealth of Virginia to have AP Computer Science, IT Fundamentals and Cybersecurity Fundamentals courses offered in all five public schools in its district and it will provide the unique opportunity is now available as a career option for any high schooler residing in Norfolk, VA. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Education Perkins Act.

Project Working Title:

Enhancing HS CS Teachers' Professional Identity through an Innovative Professional Development Program

Project Idea or Description:

The main focus will be to assist high school teachers in developing their professional identity and pedagogical proficiency for teaching computer science (CS) by enhancing the support for high school teachers who are teaching rigorous CS courses, both Advanced Placement (AP) such as Computer Science A and CTE courses (Computer Science Principles). The main innovative idea is to develop, deploy, and improve an educational platform that will include multiple components that better prepare teachers’ readiness to prepare and support high school students for their future pathways to success in the CS workforce with supplemental curriculum for students, professional development, and speaker series.

How will this idea advance broadening participation in computing?

The main goal of this pilot program was to expand access to the educational pathways in CS for groups that are traditionally underrepresented or underserved in CS, female and underrepresented students who are attending urban schools with many students who are from low socio-economic backgrounds by focusing on addressing the problems their teachers face - their CS teacher identity.

A resource or asset that would be very valuable to add to my project:

The project will be a scale up of the existing partnership between the ODU’s Batten College of
Engineering and Technology, Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, The Center for
Educational Partnerships, and School of Cybersecurity on the academic side; and Norfolk Public Schools on the K-12 side (mainly 9-12 high school students). The award winning pilot program was started in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) through a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education.