Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Farzana Rahman received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CSforAll award to expand access to next-generation computing education for high school students across Central New York. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Endadul Hoque serves as Co-Principal Investigator on the project.
The NSF CSforAll program supports initiatives that broaden participation in computer science by increasing access to high-quality, inclusive computing education. This award focuses on addressing persistent challenges faced by high school educators in teaching rapidly evolving computing topics – such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, algorithmic bias, and accessible software design – by providing experiential, classroom-ready learning resources and sustained teacher support.
Led in collaboration with Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester, the project will adapt and evaluate Accessible Learning Labs (ALL). The project will use browser-based, sandbox-style virtual computing labs for effective integration into grades 9–12 curricula. These labs are designed to be easily adopted and customized to fit diverse classroom contexts, lowering technical and resource barriers for teachers and students alike.
At the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), Rahman and Hoque are leading community-focused efforts that emphasize close collaboration with local school districts, including Jamesville-DeWitt, Fayetteville-Manlius, Lafayette, Christian Brothers Academy, and the Syracuse City School District, as well as regional Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) partners. Together, these partners will engage in iterative co-design, classroom implementation, and continuous evaluation to ensure the labs align with real instructional needs.
“As computing technologies continue to shape every aspect of society, it is critical that high school students have early, meaningful exposure to these topics,” says Rahman. “This project allows us to work directly with local educators to co-create accessible, hands-on learning experiences, while also strengthening Syracuse University’s relationships with the school districts in our community. By strengthening partnerships with local school districts, this work also helps create a sustainable pipeline for students to pursue undergraduate programs in ECS.”
A key component of the project is teacher professional development. The team will host summer professional development workshops in summer 2026 and summer 2027, providing high school teachers with training, curricular support, and implementation strategies to integrate these experiential labs into their classrooms. Ongoing co-curricular engagement will further support sustained adoption beyond the workshops.
“This award enables us to build long-term research–practice partnerships with local schools,” says Hoque. “By supporting teachers and engaging students early, we are helping to create a strong computing ecosystem, one that not only benefits K–12 education, but also builds pathways into higher education and careers in computer science.”
In addition to advancing high school computing education, the project contributes to research on experiential learning in computer science (CS), assessing its impact on student engagement, confidence, and instructor readiness. All developed materials will be made open-access, supporting broader adoption nationwide and advancing the goals of the national CS for All movement.