"A Fresh Squeeze on Data": Exploring Gender Differences in Self-Efficacy and Career Interest in Computing Science and Artificial Intelligence Among Elementary Students

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing field in both global job markets and educational spaces. This non-experimental quantitative study aims to explore how the educational program A Fresh Squeeze on Data affects students’ self-efficacy and career choices and whether gender will differentiate the learning outcomes. Under the social cognitive career theory framework, this study designs questionnaires as data collection instrument. The results suggest that the program significantly improves students’ comfortability with AI-related subjects but not for career interest or other measurements in self-efficacy. Unexpectedly, the program’s effect is not divided by gender. Nevertheless, this study opens up conversations about assisting students from underrepresented backgrounds to envision success in AI courses and career pathways through an activity-driven curriculum. The paper also informs educators and researchers to devise culturally responsive pedagogy in teaching AI that empowers young girls before they develop a gendered career view. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.