Twelve Recruitment Strategies

Why it is important to recruit students into computer science in the first place? Besides, it is often an elective, so shouldn’t it be the student’s choice to take these classes? Certainly, it is the student’s choice. But students often need guidance to help them understand what their choices are, and when it comes to computer science courses, they often need to understand that these courses even exist and are something that they are encouraged to try.

Often students who are underrepresented in computer science - females, minority groups, students with disabilities, students from rural or low-income areas - are the same students who are unaware of what computer science is, what is it useful for, or even that it is being offered at their schools.

Students take advice about what courses they should take from three vitally important groups:

Their parents
Their peers
Their teachers

The 12 recruitment strategies outlined below involve all three of these groups.

Classroom Visits

As a member of the mathematics department, I was able to ask my fellow math teachers if I could come and speak to their classes for a few minutes. I would talk to the students about what computer science was, the classes that were available, and the types of projects they could expect to do. Classroom visits allow you the opportunity to personally invited students to take your class.

Work with Teachers and Counselors

It can be time consuming to visit classes on your own while trying to teach your own classes. I would ask my fellow math teachers to share my invitation with their students. Often this was accompanied by asking them to share a short video with their students. If you are an APCSP or APCSA teacher, the College Board has excellent videos that help students see what these courses are about. You can find them on AP Central on the About AP Computer Science page.

Meet with the counselors at your school and explain what these courses are like, any sequencing that is preferred, and that you are open to all students taking the class. It may be the case that your counselors have their own view of who belongs in computer science and only recruiting certain groups of students.

Letters to Students and their Parents

At some point, a fellow CS teacher shared a recruitment letter that they sent to their students. The letters were written slightly differently for male students verses female students to highlight the aspects of computer science that would be enticing to each group. The letter served to support parents in their conversations with their children. In the letters, I included background information about what computer science is, what a career in computer science might look like, what problems students might be able to solve, and information about the different course that were offered at my school.

School Presentations

If your school has a recruitment night, be sure you are there to showcase these courses. Our school hosted a rising 8th grade night to help parents and students understand what options they had for classes and electives. Be sure to include fun projects that students would expect to complete as well as background information on the courses.

Our school would also have a specific AP night. At this event, I would bring a poster board showcasing student work and then I would have information sheets for inquiring parents and students.

Student Ambassadors

Students trust recommendations from their peers. Have some trusted current students conduct your classroom visits to talk about the courses. If you can, don’t be in the room as they give their honest opinion of your class, what they liked about it, what they found difficult, and their tips for how to be most successful. Since female students struggle with a sense of belonging in computer science, sending a current female may inspire future female students to be brave and take the course.

Inviting Classroom

Take a look at your classroom. Create a classroom environment that is fun and inviting to all students. Use inspirational posters show a variety of careers and the people in those careers. You can also display student projects on the walls.

Seems like educational posters are easy to come by for other courses, but not so much for CS. I create my own posters using some of the larger lined poster board meant for elementary school and featured basic programming elements. Here are some pictures of some of what was on my walls.

Engaging Projects

Be sure that the projects you are having students complete are ones that they will find relatable and interesting. Try to include a purpose for each that is beyond just learning the content. Another way to make projects engaging is to allow students choice about their projects. This will allow them to pursue their own interests.

What does this have to do with recruitment? Students that are excited about what they are doing in your class, will talk about what they are doing. This leads to promotion by word of mouth.

Showcase Student Work

Don’t just showcase your student’s work in your classroom. Utilize the space outside your classroom to hang student work in the hallways. Are there hands-on, unplugged activities that might have you in the hallway? I wanted students who were passing by to say, “What is that class? I want to take it!”

Computer Science Clubs

If your school doesn’t have a computer science club, start one. This is a way to help students get a taste of computer science without having to take the class.

Vocation Aligned Clubs

Some vocational clubs like FBLA and DECA have computer science contests. Volunteer to work with club members to support their efforts and then talk up taking your class. You can also be a judge for these events.

Computer Science Camps for Younger Students

What better way to recruit students than to get them hooked on computer science in the early grades? I would offer afterschool and summer coding camps for elementary aged students. Students would come and work through Lego robotics tutorials. There are a lot of different programs for young students to get started with and attending a high school classroom with high school students helping them is a real treat.

Visit Middle School or Elementary Classrooms

I would always make time to spend part of a day at the middle school. It was a great opportunity for me to see what the middle school computer science classes were up to. I would provide a short presentation on the classes at high school and then spend the rest of the time looking at the students’ projects and talking with them.

Our elementary school would offer a few hours off to their teachers so they could do their Christmas shopping. The classes would be covered with volunteers. One year, I volunteered and brought some unplugged activities to do with students. They had the best time.

Of course, one of the best district wide events for elementary and middle school students is to host a computer science carnival event of unplugged activities. Here is a helpful guide to conduct your own carnival.

Be sure to have your current students on hand to volunteer and help with these events!