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Research on increasing diversity in computing requires focused investigations of how girls of color develop their self-efficacy beliefs. Measures of self-efficacy are commonly collected using validated survey instruments that require selfreporting. In this paper, we present an observational protocol based on Bandura’s four sources of efficacy beliefs that can be used in conjunction with existing surveys to capture qualitative data on how computing self-efficacy beliefs develop. We present the observational protocol as a complementary instrument that can be used alone or in conjunction with validated surveys to capture learners’ observable behaviors as they learn new computing knowledge and skills. 

Broadening participation in computing requires a deeper understanding of how to support girls of color in developing computing identities, or views of themselves as active participants within computing. We propose the concept of authentic invitations as a promising avenue for supporting girls of color in developing computing identities. To illustrate the three proposed dimensions of an authentic invitation, we highlight the experiences of Deandra, a 16- year-old Black girl who participated in an informal computing program for girls of color hosted in public libraries. Our findings show how offering voluntary, contextual, and responsive invitations to participate in computing can support girls of color in authoring computing identities that integrate their social and personal experiences. 

Norms and values in computing education are constantly changing as dominant narratives about the role of computing in society evolve over time. Within the current evolving landscape of computing education, researchers and practitioners have advocated for ensuring people from all backgrounds, and particularly women, non-binary, and Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people, are able to participate equitably within the field of computing. Yet, the values of computing educational experiences are narrowly framed within career outcomes, such as securing a career in computing, leaving many important experiences and ways of participating in the field out of the picture. To address this, we conducted reflective interviews with women who participated in broadening participation in computing (BPC) programs to understand their perceptions of computing and how it aligns (or not) with what they value about their experiences in computing learning environments. We investigate the following research questions: (1) How do women who participated in BPC programs describe their perceptions of computing? (2) How do those perceptions align or misalign with the program outcomes they valued? The findings from our study call attention to tensions arising from centering “computing careers” in BPC work and highlight the outcomes of participation valued by the women in our study, such as developing communities and relationships, gaining communication skills, and expanding perspectives on skills computer scientists should possess.