Computers and software are changing everything but many schools still don't offer computer science. Our students should learn to code as computer science is about logic, problem solving, and creativity, not just learning technology. Every 21st century student should have a chance to learn about algorithms, how to make apps, and how the internet works. While some may think that computer science is just for vocational skills or STEM, it is actually foundational and affects every field.
Why computer science in K-12 by Code.orgPeerasak C.
Computer science drives innovation throughout the US economy, but it remains marginalized throughout K-12 education.
Only 33 states allow students to count computer science courses toward high school graduation.
There are currently 517,393 open computing jobs nationwide.
Last year, only 42,969 computer science students graduated into the workforce.
______
"Summary of source data for Code.org infographics and stats
Computing occupations make up ⅔ of all projected new jobs in STEM fields
The source for these data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections (http://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm). The projection for new computing jobs is 548,200 from 2014-2024. Projections for all other STEM jobs combined is 288,400 over the same period.
When comparing Employment Projections data to Computer Science graduates, only STEM and computing jobs that require a bachelor’s degree are included (i.e., jobs that require associate’s degrees or less, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees are not included in these projection summaries). In this case, the projection for new computing jobs that require a bachelor’s degree is 413,500, versus 165,600 in all other STEM fields combined. This is a 71:29 ratio of jobs in Computing versus the rest of STEM.
For STEM occupations, we use the SOC codes that the BLS defined as STEM in the “Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Information Technology Domain” (http://www.bls.gov/soc/Attachment_A_STEM.pdf and http://www.bls.gov/soc/Attachment_B_STEM.pdf).
For computing occupations, we use all of the occupations listed under “Computer Occupations” SOC 15-1100, as well as additional individual codes in other categories that are clearly computer science occupations. Specific codes for both classifications are listed below. Note that these codes include occupations at all degree levels."
Ali Partovi, Co-Founder of Code.org, presentation at Piedmont Education Speaker Series on Preparing Students for the Age of Technology - September 30, 2014
it talks about the computer history and how much it's important to know about programming, it also talks about the statistics of the advantage and disadvantage and how much people learn computer
Why computer science in K-12 by Code.orgPeerasak C.
Computer science drives innovation throughout the US economy, but it remains marginalized throughout K-12 education.
Only 33 states allow students to count computer science courses toward high school graduation.
There are currently 517,393 open computing jobs nationwide.
Last year, only 42,969 computer science students graduated into the workforce.
______
"Summary of source data for Code.org infographics and stats
Computing occupations make up ⅔ of all projected new jobs in STEM fields
The source for these data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections (http://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm). The projection for new computing jobs is 548,200 from 2014-2024. Projections for all other STEM jobs combined is 288,400 over the same period.
When comparing Employment Projections data to Computer Science graduates, only STEM and computing jobs that require a bachelor’s degree are included (i.e., jobs that require associate’s degrees or less, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees are not included in these projection summaries). In this case, the projection for new computing jobs that require a bachelor’s degree is 413,500, versus 165,600 in all other STEM fields combined. This is a 71:29 ratio of jobs in Computing versus the rest of STEM.
For STEM occupations, we use the SOC codes that the BLS defined as STEM in the “Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Information Technology Domain” (http://www.bls.gov/soc/Attachment_A_STEM.pdf and http://www.bls.gov/soc/Attachment_B_STEM.pdf).
For computing occupations, we use all of the occupations listed under “Computer Occupations” SOC 15-1100, as well as additional individual codes in other categories that are clearly computer science occupations. Specific codes for both classifications are listed below. Note that these codes include occupations at all degree levels."
Ali Partovi, Co-Founder of Code.org, presentation at Piedmont Education Speaker Series on Preparing Students for the Age of Technology - September 30, 2014
it talks about the computer history and how much it's important to know about programming, it also talks about the statistics of the advantage and disadvantage and how much people learn computer
ELH School Tech 2013 - Computational ThinkingPaul Herring
To be good ‘Computational Thinkers’ and hence effective users of, and more importantly empowered creators with Digital Technologies, students need to be conversant and articulate with:
algorithms;
cryptography;
machine intelligence;
computational biology;
search;
recursion;
heuristics;
Entrepreneurial enabling, and
The use of Digital Technologies to develop and support Critical Thinking skills.
While schools have taught many of these areas in the past, opportunities are now being presented where schools can fully embrace those areas traditionally part of a Computer Science type course, but also introduce the fascinating new areas of endeavor such as cryptography and computational biology.
Coupled with the increasing enabling of application development and deployment by Senior School students, such as in the creation and deployment of mobile games using Corona and Lua for example, students are able to be powerfully enabled as creative producers, not just passive users.
The presentation will give an overview of these areas of Computational Thinking and some outline of how they might be implemented in the curriculum, including current examples from senior IT classes in Queensland who are creating digital apps for Android devices.
This presentation will cover some of the ground from my ACEC 2012 talk on this topic (see SlideCast at this link: http://www.slideshare.net/StrategicITbyPFH/computational-thinking-14629222), but expand in a number of areas, in particular some specific suggestions regarding classroom implementation.
Powerpoint of talk given to QSITE Conference, at Siena College, Sippy Downs, Sunshine Coast, Australia on 30th Sept. 2013.
This is almost identical to the ELH presentation so if you have listened to that SlideCast don't worry about this one - I didn't record the audio this time, though in hinddight I should have as the conversation after the talk was great and the emphasis was different.
Computer science drives innovation in the US economy and society. Despite growing demand for jobs in the field, it remains marginalized throughout the US K-12 education system.
Presented at the CS4TX Statewide Meeting, October 19, 2016, in Houston, TX.
Presented by:
Carol Fletcher, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Center for STEM Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Earl Pace and David Wimberly founded BDPA in November 1975 as a local association. Within three years, the founders grew BDPA into a national organization with chapters in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Cleveland.
Today, there are 45 chapters throughout the United States. One part of the BDPA legacy is our Student Information Technology & Scholarship (SITES) program. This is a program that enriches the educational opportunities for our students in an after-school program of technology training with a focus on low-and moderate-income communities.
BDPA established the Student Information Technology & Scholarship (SITES) program to teach advanced computer science and community responsibility to students from historically disadvantaged communities. BDPA has provided meaningful STEM experiences to over 10,000 since the beginning of the SITES program … with over 1,700 students having a chance to compete in our national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships. We are proud to have given out over 150 college scholarships to well-deserving students in our SITES program.
There are three major components of our SITES program that impact on the educational future of K-12 students:
1. Computer Camps
2. High School Computer Competition (HSCC)
3. IT Showcase
Most of our 45 local BDPA chapters run youth education programs that provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum and experiences on Saturdays for young people of color. These training programs host an average of 24 students for anywhere for up to 20 weeks and inspire our young people to become interested in BDPA and in the potential of a future course of study that focuses on STEM-based building blocks.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly popular for its extensive use in improving services and decision-making process for the companies. If you want to study AI for higher studies, you can find a number of colleges that offer AI courses in the US. Here are 10 of them.
Project>Login: From Curiosity to CareerJay Collier
The demand for computing and IT professionals is growing nationally, and these are well-compensated careers for those who are passionate about technology. Unfortunately, in Maine, as elsewhere, too few young and adult learners are discovering this profession, mastering foundational skills, and gaining relevant experience to succeed.
Maine’s Project>Login has been working with students, teachers, and professionals to chart a course from curiosity to career: from playing and tinkering to making and studying to mastering the practices and competencies that will help them thrive in their future roles: at home, at work, and in the community.
How can we help young and adults learners discover, explore, and pursue pathways to the computing and IT profession?
This is an overview of the STEM activities I will be doing this school year. It is a work in progress - please check it out every once in awhile because it will be periodically updated!
Building a Computer Science Pipeline in Your DistrictWeTeach_CS
Provide attendees with the resources, data and connections needed to establish and sustain a robust CS program in their school district. Expose participants to numerous no-to-low cost options for accessing curriculum and professional development related to CS.
ELH School Tech 2013 - Computational ThinkingPaul Herring
To be good ‘Computational Thinkers’ and hence effective users of, and more importantly empowered creators with Digital Technologies, students need to be conversant and articulate with:
algorithms;
cryptography;
machine intelligence;
computational biology;
search;
recursion;
heuristics;
Entrepreneurial enabling, and
The use of Digital Technologies to develop and support Critical Thinking skills.
While schools have taught many of these areas in the past, opportunities are now being presented where schools can fully embrace those areas traditionally part of a Computer Science type course, but also introduce the fascinating new areas of endeavor such as cryptography and computational biology.
Coupled with the increasing enabling of application development and deployment by Senior School students, such as in the creation and deployment of mobile games using Corona and Lua for example, students are able to be powerfully enabled as creative producers, not just passive users.
The presentation will give an overview of these areas of Computational Thinking and some outline of how they might be implemented in the curriculum, including current examples from senior IT classes in Queensland who are creating digital apps for Android devices.
This presentation will cover some of the ground from my ACEC 2012 talk on this topic (see SlideCast at this link: http://www.slideshare.net/StrategicITbyPFH/computational-thinking-14629222), but expand in a number of areas, in particular some specific suggestions regarding classroom implementation.
Powerpoint of talk given to QSITE Conference, at Siena College, Sippy Downs, Sunshine Coast, Australia on 30th Sept. 2013.
This is almost identical to the ELH presentation so if you have listened to that SlideCast don't worry about this one - I didn't record the audio this time, though in hinddight I should have as the conversation after the talk was great and the emphasis was different.
Computer science drives innovation in the US economy and society. Despite growing demand for jobs in the field, it remains marginalized throughout the US K-12 education system.
Presented at the CS4TX Statewide Meeting, October 19, 2016, in Houston, TX.
Presented by:
Carol Fletcher, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Center for STEM Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Earl Pace and David Wimberly founded BDPA in November 1975 as a local association. Within three years, the founders grew BDPA into a national organization with chapters in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Cleveland.
Today, there are 45 chapters throughout the United States. One part of the BDPA legacy is our Student Information Technology & Scholarship (SITES) program. This is a program that enriches the educational opportunities for our students in an after-school program of technology training with a focus on low-and moderate-income communities.
BDPA established the Student Information Technology & Scholarship (SITES) program to teach advanced computer science and community responsibility to students from historically disadvantaged communities. BDPA has provided meaningful STEM experiences to over 10,000 since the beginning of the SITES program … with over 1,700 students having a chance to compete in our national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships. We are proud to have given out over 150 college scholarships to well-deserving students in our SITES program.
There are three major components of our SITES program that impact on the educational future of K-12 students:
1. Computer Camps
2. High School Computer Competition (HSCC)
3. IT Showcase
Most of our 45 local BDPA chapters run youth education programs that provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum and experiences on Saturdays for young people of color. These training programs host an average of 24 students for anywhere for up to 20 weeks and inspire our young people to become interested in BDPA and in the potential of a future course of study that focuses on STEM-based building blocks.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly popular for its extensive use in improving services and decision-making process for the companies. If you want to study AI for higher studies, you can find a number of colleges that offer AI courses in the US. Here are 10 of them.
Project>Login: From Curiosity to CareerJay Collier
The demand for computing and IT professionals is growing nationally, and these are well-compensated careers for those who are passionate about technology. Unfortunately, in Maine, as elsewhere, too few young and adult learners are discovering this profession, mastering foundational skills, and gaining relevant experience to succeed.
Maine’s Project>Login has been working with students, teachers, and professionals to chart a course from curiosity to career: from playing and tinkering to making and studying to mastering the practices and competencies that will help them thrive in their future roles: at home, at work, and in the community.
How can we help young and adults learners discover, explore, and pursue pathways to the computing and IT profession?
This is an overview of the STEM activities I will be doing this school year. It is a work in progress - please check it out every once in awhile because it will be periodically updated!
Building a Computer Science Pipeline in Your DistrictWeTeach_CS
Provide attendees with the resources, data and connections needed to establish and sustain a robust CS program in their school district. Expose participants to numerous no-to-low cost options for accessing curriculum and professional development related to CS.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Acetabularia Information For Class 9 .docxvaibhavrinwa19
Acetabularia acetabulum is a single-celled green alga that in its vegetative state is morphologically differentiated into a basal rhizoid and an axially elongated stalk, which bears whorls of branching hairs. The single diploid nucleus resides in the rhizoid.
13. Every 21st century student should
have a chance to learn about
algorithms, how to make apps,
and how the internet works.
14. The tech industry is
desperately trying to hire
computer programmers in
California
Some may think:
15. The tech every industry is
desperately trying to hire
computer programmers in
California everywhere
16. believe offering computer science is more or
equally as important as any required course.
83% of parents and 64% of
principals in rural and small towns
18. 500,000 current
openings:
These jobs are in
every industry and
every state, and
they’re projected to
grow at twice the rate
of all other jobs.
Computing jobs are the #1 source
of new wages in the United States
19. This problem is
about “STEM”
(Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math)…
Some may think:
20. Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics
The STEM problem is in computer
science
21. K-12 computer
science
University computer
science
Software
workforce
Women who try AP Computer Science in high school are ten times more
likely to major in it in college, and Black and Latino students are seven
times more likely.
Sources: College Board, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Solving the diversity problem
begins in K–12
23. Only 41 states have
created K–12
computer science
standards.
Momentum is building,
but we still have a
long way to go.
States with K–12 CS
standards
States without K–12 CS
standards
The state of K–12 computer
science standards
24. Computer science counts
statewide
Computer science can count
(school decides)
Computer science is an
elective
CS can count for graduation in
All 50 states + DC
In all 50 states plus
DC, computer science
can count towards high
school graduation math
or science requirements
- up from 12 states
in 2013.
25. Underrepresented racial
and ethnic groups
taking an AP CS exam
Female students
taking an AP CS exam
2007 2019 2007 2019
And, in schools that teach CS,
enrollment is through the roof…
Let’s talk about getting computer science into our K-12 schools
But let’s start by talking about dreams
Opportunities for you
Opportunities for your community
And most importantly, an opportunity to create something
The beauty of computer science is that imagination and creation lie at the heart of the field
This smart phone I have here or the laptop driving this presentation are innovation platforms
They allow dreamers, idealists and entrepreneurs anywhere in world to bring their ideas into reality IF they know how to write the software that drives our modern world
But the reality of our education system today is that it is not set up for everyone to participate in the new American economy and opportunity
Computer science isn’t widely taught in our schools
A recently released comprehensive Gallup survey of parents and school administrators shows the stark gap between what parents want and what is happening in our schools
9 out of 10 parents surveyed WANT their child to learn computer science
But according to our Access Report, just 53% of high schools offer computer science courses
Our education system clearly needs to evolve to bring computer science to students that want to learn this subject
And this evolution isn’t something the tech industry wants, it is clearly something that parents and students want
Let’s address a few misconceptions and themes we consistently hear from our advocacy for students across the country
The first is that we should be teaching our kids to code
Our view is that schools should be teaching computer science
Coding is an important TOOL for computer science but it is a bit like arithmetic is a TOOL for doing mathematics, and words are a TOOL for English
Coding creates software, but computer science is a broad field encompassing deep concepts that go well beyond coding.
And all students should have access to computer science courses in their schools.
When people hear the term computer science, they often simply think of the technology it creates
What they don’t realize is that the beauty of computer science lies in the process to create that technology
The reality is that computer science is about logic, problem solving, and creativity
It teaches students how to think differently about problems they are trying to solve in any context
It teaches kids how to create digital artifacts and how those artifacts impact the world around them by looking at issues such as privacy and security
A very simple way to think about this is CS teaches kids how to CREATE new technologies instead of just being consumers of technology
Just as important as recognizing what computer science is, is recognizing what it is not
It is not basic HTML design, it is not learning to use applications or a photoshop course
Many of these thing CAN be part of a computer science course, but they are not the foundation of the curriculum
We can do better than simple technology literacy – we can make kids creators of technology
For example, consider the fact that the first computer was built in 1943….
…but the first computer program was written in 1843, by Ada Lovelace.
Writing a computer program is about using logic to creatively solve a problem...
Not just about the technology that carries out that program.
We hear a lot about the number of computing jobs in the US economy
And many view computer science as simply vocational,
That learning computer science is just about getting a great job
The right way to think about computer science in our education system is that it is foundational
The reality is that technology affects every field of commerce
In healthcare – computing is part of operating rooms every day and it is enabling breakthroughs like these contact lenses that detect levels of insulin for people with diabetes
In space – we are depending on a generation of robots to explore where humans cannot now
In our homes -- we are automating everyday things like our heating systems
On our roads – we depend on navigation systems to get us home and now we are experimenting with bringing self-driving cars into our everyday lives
In entertainment – blockbuster movies depend on computer science to bring new characters to life and provide us new completely animated worlds
And every single day this trend is growing across every single industry
So let’s take a little audience pop-quiz
How many of you can answer these questions?
What is photosynthesis?
Or what is H2O?
These are all things that we expect kids to graduate high school knowing
Every 21st century student should also have a chance to learn about algorithms, how to make an app, or how the internet works.
Right now there’s no expectation in our schools that students will even have a basic understanding of these concepts, even though they are driving a large part of our society.
It is equally important that students understand what a “for loop” is and how it is used and how to design algorithms is as it is that they understand how to solve an equation or how plants live
The main reason that computer science is now foundational knowledge necessary in every school is because it will allow students to think about problems differently
Students will gain computational thinking skills, which embody a more robust way to think about problems
And the problem solving process can be applied to any field of study and to any problem
If you are facing a big, ambiguous project at home or at work, computational thinking and problem solving processes can help you break this problem into smaller chunks. Recognizing what’s important and what needs to be solved first are critical thinking skills that are valuable in ANY context
There’s a temptation to think that this is only about the IT industry
That only Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter are participating in this new opportunity
But in fact, computer programmers are needed in every industry and across the country.
So what will a career look like in 2030?
It will be a workforce that is very data driven, that leverages technology to bring new ideas into the marketplace
Employers will need workers that understand not only how to use technology, but how to create and manipulate it
Just being facile with technology will NOT be enough
Simply put, our students will need to be innovators and creators
And to do this they need opportunities to learn CS
When giving this presentation, update the stats and localize to wherever you’re presenting using data from fact-sheets at http://code.org/promote
A computer science major can earn 40% more than the college average.
And there are job openings across all industries and in every state. There are more than 500,000 open jobs in computing right now, representing the #1 source of new wages in the United States, and these jobs are projected to grow at twice the rate of all other jobs.
Everywhere from the President of the US to local school boards have identified STEM education as a major issue in facing the US
What I’d suggest is that we have a major computer science problem when it comes the alignment between access to K-12 CS science education and opportunities in our modern economy.
This chart shows the projected STEM jobs in our US economy broken out by computing jobs and all other STEM jobs
And this chart shows students graduating with STEM degrees broken out by CS versus all other math/science subjects
These graphs generally speak for themselves – we clearly have a disconnect in our education system
Generally, VERY few students are taking AP high school computer science relative to all other AP tests
But even more troubling is that only 23% of total students taking AP CS are female.
Similar trends are found in computer science majors in college.
And the diversity problem in computing is now something that makes front page news about major tech companies struggling to create a diverse workforce
Out of all the computing jobs in our entire economy, women only make up a quarter of that workforce
Consider that these are the fastest growing, highest paying, most in-demand jobs in America
And if current trends continue, only one of out four of those jobs will be filled by women
And the stats about Black and Hispanic students tell a very similar story as well.
Often, the reason that students don’t take computer science is that they don’t have access to it.
We need to think differently about the diversity problem in tech
And that needs to start with exposing all students early on to CS, by starting in the FORMAL education space
The question is, what to do about the lack of access to K-12 computer science?
What can we do when a student’s access to CS is determined largely on whether or not the school is lucky enough or forward thinking enough to have a computer science teacher?
What can we do when girls are not participating in this field or thinking that computer science is “not for them”?
The real question we face is how can our education system evolve to ensure that computer science is part of our student’s daily lives?
I’m here to tell you that it is already evolving
Already, several states have created K-12 computer science standards, all but one of those in the past two years, and several more are in progress.
And in the past four years, we’ve changed policies to allow computer science to count for graduation bringing the total number of states that allow CS to count to 47 plus DC.
And in schools that offer computer science, enrollment is through the roof.
AP Computer Science A is the fastest growing course of the decade.
And both female and underrepresented racial and ethnic group participation has been increasing
Education today has numerous controversial topics
But computer science isn’t one of them
At a time that we are fighting about what should or shouldn’t be taught in our schools, 90% of parents are asking for computer science in their schools
We have momentum
We have grassroots support
What we need now is schools to put two things into place:
First, high-quality, rigorous curriculum and courses
Second, we need to prepare teachers to teach our students
We need states to launch initiatives build on these two goals and focused on improving access to CS education
