Exploring Computer Science

This Exploring Computer Science (ECS) website is supported by the Broadening Participation in Computing division of the National Science Foundation, and provides curriculum and related resources for teaching the course Exploring Computer Science. ECS’s mission “is to increase and enhance the computer science learning opportunities in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest school district in the country, and to broaden the participation of African-American, Latino/a, and female students in learning computer science.” To accomplish this, ECS founded a K-12/university partnership to work on changes in curriculum, professional development, counselor education, stereotypes of students, and policy.

The website provides information on ECS, the curriculum, professional development, research, and student and teacher resources. Exploring Computer Science is a yearlong course consisting of six units. Units include Human Computer Interaction, Problem Solving, Web Design, Programming, Computer and Data Analysis, and Robotics. ECS has grown into a national program and the course has been implemented in partner districts throughout the United States. Educators may fill out an online form to receive the download link for the ECS Curriculum. Organizations interested in adopting ECS in local areas should contact ECS Leadership.