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Influences of Precollege Out-of-School Time Computer Science Experiences on Students' Career Interest in Computer Science

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Title: Influences of Precollege Out-of-School Time Computer Science Experiences on Students' Career Interest in Computer Science
Language: English
Authors: Rongxiu Wu (ORCID 0000-0003-0457-2738), Susan Sunbury (ORCID 0000-0003-0931-3399), Philip Sadler (ORCID 0000-0001-7578-4047), Gerhard Sonnert (ORCID 0000-0003-4138-2044)
Source: ACM Transactions on Computing Education. 2026 26(1).
Availability: Association for Computing Machinery. 1601 Broadway 10th Floor, New York, NY 10119. Tel: 800-342-6626; Tel: 212-626-0500; Fax: 212-944-1318; e-mail: acmhelp@acm.org; Web site: http://toce.acm.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Contract Number: 202956
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Vocational Interests, Computer Science Education, College Freshmen, Career Choice, Student Characteristics, High School Students, Student Experience, Sex, Race, Ethnicity, Programming, After School Programs
DOI: 10.1145/3770069
ISSN: 1946-6226
Abstract: Background and context: Although out-of-school time (OST) computer science (CS) experiences during the high school years have been considered an efficacious means to cultivate students' career interest in CS, there has been a paucity of rigorous research on the topic. Objective: Examine the effects of a wide variety of OST activities on students' career interest in CS. Method: We carried out a retrospective cohort study, collecting data from a nationally representative sample of 6,044 U.S. first year university students. From 27 survey items about OST CS-related activities during high school, we first selected a list of top-ranking influential variables through machine learning. Then, a multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between these top-ranking variables and students' career interests at the end of high school. Findings: The analysis showed that high school aged students' participation in unstructured CS-related activities (e.g., "talking about CS with family or friends"); structured CS-related activities (e.g., "CS-related summer camps or programs"); along with the opportunities that students experienced during OST CS programs/activities (e.g., "designing their own CS projects") boosted interest in a CS career vis-à-vis careers in other-STEM or non-STEM fields. It also showed that engaging in some activities (e.g., "using social media") was associated with a decreased likelihood of intending a CS career, compared to a career in other-STEM or non-STEM fields. An interaction effect between having a prior career interest in CS and "creating blogs/podcasts/video" was also observed. Implications: First large-scale analysis of CS OST related activities on CS career interest.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497496
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Influences of Precollege Out-of-School Time Computer Science Experiences on Students' Career Interest in Computer Science
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rongxiu+Wu%22">Rongxiu Wu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0457-2738">0000-0003-0457-2738</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+Sunbury%22">Susan Sunbury</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0931-3399">0000-0003-0931-3399</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Philip+Sadler%22">Philip Sadler</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7578-4047">0000-0001-7578-4047</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gerhard+Sonnert%22">Gerhard Sonnert</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4138-2044">0000-0003-4138-2044</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22ACM+Transactions+on+Computing+Education%22"><i>ACM Transactions on Computing Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 26(1).
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  Data: Association for Computing Machinery. 1601 Broadway 10th Floor, New York, NY 10119. Tel: 800-342-6626; Tel: 212-626-0500; Fax: 212-944-1318; e-mail: acmhelp@acm.org; Web site: http://toce.acm.org/
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  Data: National Science Foundation (NSF)
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  Data: 10.1145/3770069
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  Data: 1946-6226
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background and context: Although out-of-school time (OST) computer science (CS) experiences during the high school years have been considered an efficacious means to cultivate students' career interest in CS, there has been a paucity of rigorous research on the topic. Objective: Examine the effects of a wide variety of OST activities on students' career interest in CS. Method: We carried out a retrospective cohort study, collecting data from a nationally representative sample of 6,044 U.S. first year university students. From 27 survey items about OST CS-related activities during high school, we first selected a list of top-ranking influential variables through machine learning. Then, a multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between these top-ranking variables and students' career interests at the end of high school. Findings: The analysis showed that high school aged students' participation in unstructured CS-related activities (e.g., "talking about CS with family or friends"); structured CS-related activities (e.g., "CS-related summer camps or programs"); along with the opportunities that students experienced during OST CS programs/activities (e.g., "designing their own CS projects") boosted interest in a CS career vis-à-vis careers in other-STEM or non-STEM fields. It also showed that engaging in some activities (e.g., "using social media") was associated with a decreased likelihood of intending a CS career, compared to a career in other-STEM or non-STEM fields. An interaction effect between having a prior career interest in CS and "creating blogs/podcasts/video" was also observed. Implications: First large-scale analysis of CS OST related activities on CS career interest.
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