High Leverage Practices (HLPs) in Computer Science Education
Pathways to inclusion include strategies such as High Leverage Practices (HLPs) as an opportunity to support all learners, including those with disabilities. HLPs are a series of strategies in instructional, social/behavioral/emotional, collaborative, and assessment based support for general and special education teachers to create maximum learning opportunities for all types of learners (CEC, 2015). Organized into four domains for effective teaching, implementing HLPs in classrooms benefits not only the students, but also supports collaboration between general and special education teachers as well as parents.
The resources on this page contain practical applications of HLPs in K-12 CS education. Our team is working to address barriers to inclusion by providing resources and examples of how to support general or special education students regardless of skill level, social emotional, cognitive, or physical need.
Example HLPs in CS Education
| Collaboration | Assessment | Instructional | Social/Emotional/Behavioral |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Collaborate with professionals to increase student success
3. Collaborate with families to support student learning. |
4. Use multiple data sources to understand strengths & needs.
6. Use assessment data to analyze instructional practice make adjustments |
14. Teach metacognitive strategies
15. Provide scaffolded supports 19. Use assistive and instructional technologies |
7. Establish a consistent, organized, and respectful learning environment
8. Provide constructive feedback to guide student learning and behavior |
Example HLPs in CS Education
Collaboration
1. Collaborate with professionals to increase student success
3. Collaborate with families to support student learning.
Assessment
4. Use multiple data sources to understand strengths & needs.
6. Use assessment data to analyze instructional practice make adjustments
Instructional
14. Teach metacognitive strategies
15. Provide scaffolded supports
19. Use assistive and instructional technologies
Social/Emotional/Behavioral
7. Establish a consistent, organized, and respectful learning environment
8. Provide constructive feedback to guide student learning and behavior
Example HLPs in CS Education
Collaboration
1. Collaborate with professionals to increase student success
3. Collaborate with families to support student learning.
Assessment
4. Use multiple data sources to understand strengths & needs.
6. Use assessment data to analyze instructional practice make adjustments
Instructional
14. Teach metacognitive strategies
15. Provide scaffolded supports
19. Use assistive and instructional technologies
Social/Emotional/Behavioral
7. Establish a consistent, organized, and respectful learning environment
8. Provide constructive feedback to guide student learning and behavior
Applying HLPs in CS Education
HLP 16: Use explicit instruction
Teachers make content, skills, and concepts explicit by showing and guiding students on how to solve problems, enact strategies, complete tasks, and classify concepts.
HLP 15: Provide Scaffolded Supports
Scaffolded supports provide temporary assistance to students so they can successfully complete tasks that they cannot yet do independently and with a high rate of success.
HLP 14: Teach Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies to Support Learning and Independence
Teachers explicitly teach cognitive and metacognitive processing strategies to support memory, attention, and self-regulation of learning.
HLP 8: Provide Positive and Constructive Feedback to Guide Students’ Learning and Behavior
The purpose of feedback is to guide student learning and behavior and increase student motivation, engagement, and independence
Applying HLPs in CS Education
The listing above provides several examples of the HLPs in CS practice. Explore the specific HLPs listed below for more detailed information.
HLP 16: Use explicit instruction
Excerpt: Teachers make content, skills, and concepts explicit by showing and guiding students on how to solve problems, enact strategies, complete tasks, and classify concepts
HLP 15: Provide Scaffolded Supports
Excerpt: Scaffolded supports provide temporary assistance to students so they can successfully complete tasks that they cannot yet do independently and with a high rate of success.
HLP 14: Teach Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies to Support Learning and Independence
Excerpt: Teachers explicitly teach cognitive and metacognitive processing strategies to support memory, attention, and self-regulation of learning.
HLP 8: Provide Positive and Constructive Feedback to Guide Students’ Learning and Behavior
Excerpt: The purpose of feedback is to guide student learning and behavior and increase student motivation, engagement, and independence, leading to improved student learning and behavior.
Applying HLPs in CS Education
The listing above provides several examples of the HLPs in CS practice. Explore the specific HLPs listed below for more detailed information.
HLP 16: Use explicit instruction
Excerpt: Teachers make content, skills, and concepts explicit by showing and guiding students on how to solve problems, enact strategies, complete tasks, and classify concepts
HLP 15: Provide Scaffolded Supports
Excerpt: Scaffolded supports provide temporary assistance to students so they can successfully complete tasks that they cannot yet do independently and with a high rate of success.
HLP 14: Teach Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies to Support Learning and Independence
Excerpt: Teachers explicitly teach cognitive and metacognitive processing strategies to support memory, attention, and self-regulation of learning.
HLP 8: Provide Positive and Constructive Feedback to Guide Students’ Learning and Behavior
Excerpt: The purpose of feedback is to guide student learning and behavior and increase student motivation, engagement, and independence, leading to improved student learning and behavior.