Attracting Black High School Boys to Computer Science Through Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship

This experience report describes a five-week tech innovation and entrepreneurship program for black high school boys. The program was designed to show young boys they can create and own technology relevant to their communities and experiences. The program’s interactive and engaging activities were planned, organized, and carried out by black male senior undergraduates and a graduate student from Howard University. This program, although still being evaluated, may help to attract boys to undergraduate computer science as a major. Initial results showed the program: 1. Improved perception of CS among black male high school students; 2. Increased the confidence of participants and; 3. Increased the number of students that want to major in CS in college.