Computer science in K-12 education, as we know, has come a long way, especially over the last few years. What was once considered to be a complex endeavor that was largely suitable for only advanced students with the smartest minds has undergone a shift and is now inclusive to everyone. Students as young as first or second grade are able to experience what it’s like to think like a computer scientist thanks to technology tools that replicate that process in an introductory and age-appropriate way. Today, CS education is now a necessity and, in schools, its prevalence is finally starting to reflect that.
Computer Science is a Playground for 21st Century Skills
Computer science is not something students should be intimidated by. Sure, in its most advanced forms, it can get pretty complex, but Computer science is becoming just like the all the rest of the core academic subjects. There are simplified ways of teaching it and its importance is increasing by the day. One of the most fortunate aspects of Computer science is that there are so many different ways teachers can teach it and so many tools they can use in the process. And, a lot of these EdTech tools are designed to reach students in the early grades so they can get early exposure that will benefit them a great deal down the road. In the title of this section, Computer science is referred to as a playground and, with the right tools and guidance, there is no reason at all that it can’t be one.
To call Computer Science a playground is not to say that it is all fun and games. Obviously, it leads to some pretty serious learning and gives students the opportunity to better their futures. The manner in which they learn computer science skills, however, can be likened to playground experiences. In Computer Science, students are constantly tinkering, experimenting, and learning from their mistakes just as they do on the playground. Since Computer Science is the fastest growing and one of the most popular academic subjects, teachers are helping students get more out of it by framing it as something that’s more fun than frustrating. Just like playground play helps kids learn important things, like how to not exhaust their energy or how to not fall of the monkey bars, Computer Science gives them the same chances to learn through experience and build important skills, like analytical thinking, communication, and creativity, in the process.
Computer Science enables students to learn important real-world skills from a young age and while they enjoy a playful experience. Today’s STEM tools afford them with a fun experience that also teaches them things like innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration in the process. Computer Science, to some extent, has already become a fundamental 21st century subject, but it will only go on to become more integral to shaping student readiness. For that reason, it’s important that teachers are able to present students with Computer Science content in a way that’s engaging and not intimidating to them. By making it seem fun rather than difficult, students will gravitate towards computer science and become more likely to explore it further in the later grades and even in their potential careers. As long as it looks fun (like a playground), students should have the desire to explore Computer Science.
The Trends to Watch in K-12 Computer Science
With the emergence of a strong push to thrust Computer Science to the forefront of K-12 curricula is coming a pretty large-scale shift in the way things have always been. Schools are, however, now trying to shift their commitment to STEM education by creating an entirely new academic discipline that will prepare students for the future. In fact, one of the most notable trends in K-12 Computer Science is that so many schools and school leaders are literally racing to construct curricula and get kids coding as quickly as possible. Some of these movements are happening at the state level and some are just being done in certain schools or districts that have the time, space, and money to make it happen. The good news is many schools are now realizing they need to find the time, space, and money to make it happen or they risk not adequately preparing their students for life after graduation.
Since the Computer Science for All movement has taken off in education throughout the past couple of years, there have been almost as many questions as answers following it around. Here are some of the major trends related to Computer Science in education and why they are important. First off, educational professionals are constantly trying to give Computer Science a clearly defined rationale when it’s used in the classroom with the most obvious solution being to relate it to economic and workforce development. The next trend is school leaders trying to make Computer Science more culturally relevant by appealing to boys, girls, children of all ages, and children of all races since having Computer Science skills is equally important for all of them. Then there are students with disabilities. Educators are constantly trying to find ways to make Computer Science education valuable for these students and, with the help of simplistic EdTech, they are starting to make gains in this area.
Other popular approaches for getting Computer Science in schools involve more planning, especially when it comes to the content being used. For example, teachers are noticing the need to decide on a programming environment or language when it comes to teaching kids about coding. Results show that it’s more effective if kids stick with one continuous programming language, like Blockly, for example, rather than changing things up. Teachers are also constantly trying to find ways to weave computational thinking into their Computer Science courses as this is an incredibly useful skill for students to have. And, finally, what good is teaching Computer Science skills if teachers have no way of evaluating the effectiveness of their lessons? For that reason, many of them are creating interesting new assessments or refining traditional ways to cater more towards Computer Science readiness and ensuring their students are learning the skills. If you’re looking to start a successful Computer Science program in your school, these are some of the most important components you need to consider.
Computer Science’s Popularity Peaks Among Students
Let’s face it. There are some things kids just don’t like to learn. Some think they’ll never get the hang of algebra. Others believe there’s no need to know the formula for velocity in the real world. One trend that’s becoming more consistent, however, is that students actually want to learn computer science. Whether they realize its monumental importance, think it’s more like play, or just enjoy experimenting with digital tools, research shows that many students seek the opportunities to take Computer Science classes even though a lot of them never get that chance. In colleges, the number of Computer Science majors has increased threefold in the last 10 years, an indication that everyone is starting to grasp its significance. Some students don’t need much convincing, but, for those who do, steering them towards Computer Science courses could have a heap of benefits for them down the road.
To put its popularity in perspective, Computer Science is now the most popular major at prestigious colleges, like Stanford and Princeton. Colleges are even working to create introductory courses that allow incoming freshmen to hit the ground running rather than be met with a bunch of material they’re not familiar with. They, of course, benefit from having had Computer Science instruction in high school. More and more students have the desire to understand and be able to work with Computer Science tools without having to wait until college, though. There will always be those teachers, however, who don’t want their subjects replaced with Computer Science courses even though the statistics reflect that today’s students need to know it. Hopefully, schools can work out some kind of compromise, but it would be hard for them to sit back and deprive kids of a part of their future that’s becoming so crucial.
There are those who believe the number of students taking Computer Science courses will soon near 100 percent if not reach that mark. More so than simply learning how to code, Computer Science deals with concepts as students learn the ways they can transform information from one form to another. Since so many students are beginning to take notice of the Computer Science movement, however, schools are trying to find ways to mesh their interests with the practical applications of coding and create courses geared more towards what students like. These days, everybody wants to learn Computer Science. It’s more interesting than history and, in a lot of cases, it can be a student’s ticket to a better career. Computer Science is becoming relevant to just about everybody and, in just a short amount of time, it will be impossible to avoid.
Teachers Turn to CS Education to Curb Brain Drain
In the early part of the 21st century, there were no computer science classes—just computer classes in which kids would learn what we today consider the absolute basics, like typing and making PowerPoint presentations. Those days are over now, though, as those abilities are pretty much inherited by children when they are born. Now, in computer classes, students are actually learning about what they can do with these incredibly powerful machines and how they can use them to constantly keep learning. Rather than getting students thinking about how they can use applications that have been around for awhile, modern-day Computer Science classes are geared more towards helping students adopt an innovator’s mindset and figuring out how they can create new apps to solve the new problems they face today.
Starting small is actually an effective way to get students comfortable with the immense amount of possibilities that Computer Science provides. Especially since some educators and administrators are hesitant to jump aboard the Computer Science train, teachers need to show its benefits for sharpening students’ skills in more than just the STEM areas. Especially as they approach the end of the school year, it’s important for students to continue working out their algorithms and codes so that they don’t forget the basics over the summer or before they enter a college-level course in the fall. Computer science is a fantastic way to create college and career readiness in high school students and, through the repetition of executing coding challenges, they’re more likely to retain the skills they’ve learned in high school.
We know that teachers are annual proponents of eliminating summer brain drain in students, but making sure they don’t regress with their Computer Science skills has more important implications than learning loss. Knowing and maintaining Computer Science skills could play a huge role in a student’s future career. Having a computer science background is quickly becoming one of the fastest pathways to success, so it’s important that the learning doesn’t stop for students. Even over the summer, there are coding camps or other supplemental activities they can participate in, including hackathons, so that they’re able to continue collaborating and working on coding challenges. Teachers should encourage this extra involvement especially since they don’t want students coming back to school in the fall having to start from square one.
A Computer Science Education Prepares Kids for Life
Sorry to sound too much like a commercial, but a Computer Science education really does have the potential to future-proof today’s children. Schools have to train their teachers to be able to teach computer science, but, once this is done, students will reap the benefits almost immediately. As Computer Science offerings expand further, the change that is needed in K-12 education gets an enormous boost. Simply looking at the current job market tells us that students with Computer Science degrees will have more and better opportunities in the future than their peers without one. All they need is a few gifted teachers and an IT infrastructure to support Computer Science and schools are well on their way to future-proofing their students.
Getting technology, especially Computer Science technology, into schools is becoming almost mandatory despite resistance from some. If schools can launch a 1:1 program so that each student has access to their own individual laptop for Computer Science exercises, that’s even better. And, if they can get teachers to embrace the changes, then that’s completely ideal. Sometimes, superintendent support is necessary to give schools the go-ahead to create Computer Science programs as well as to secure funding to acquire the tools they need. A well-planned initial Computer Science program will do wonders in increasing future efficiency, student interest, and real-world resonance. It’s the perfect first step for preparing kids for life after graduation.
The availability of STEM courses, and Computer Science classes in particular, helps schools create programs that instantly make students more relevant in the 21st century workforce. Technology workers tend to earn more money over their careers and serve as some of the few who are able to fill the jobs left vacant due to a lack of skilled workers. Whether it’s for a high-profile company or a local start-up, everybody needs to fill Computer Science jobs, meaning that every school should be teaching Computer Science skills. Computer Science is more than vocational training. As more students, teachers, and employers are starting to see, it’s a ticket to a better future.
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