When advertising your course, make it clear that any students “willing to do the work” are “wanted in the course,” and use titles like “Be a software engineer” or “Be an innovator” for your course or course modules.
Take extra time to encourage beginner students to learn more about CS, by (1) promoting AP CS and (2) using a final project for students already taking AP CS
Highlight key differences between math, CS, and engineering to give students context for why CS is a distinct field in itself. Let students know that you don’t necessarily have to excel in one field to excel in the others.
Have parents and peers also encourage students’ interest in Computer Science and problem solving to help influence their pursuit of it.
Don’t conflate interest in computer science with excessive amounts of time spent coding. This can discourage students who feel like they’re not into computer science because they don’t obsess over it.
Show students the diverse set of people who hold CS careers. Make sure it’s clear that there is no one person, or one personality that exemplifies the field.
To engage a wider range of students in intro courses, be sure to highlight the real-world context and applications of CS.
Allocate computer time evenly among students, especially in elementary school, so all students get a chance to play.
Model the software engineering process by having students design games or other projects for an audience. This helps students gain valuable, hands-on experience and make connections to real world applications.