iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

How one district makes computer science and computational thinking a priority for all students, regardless of background

"CS Unplugged is a collection of free teaching material that teaches Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around."

Educators from four New York state school districts met at Gates Hall July 23-24 to discuss how to implement meaningful and consistent computer-science curricula, part of a two-year project with CSforALL.

Teachers, parents, and librarians alike have used CS First. No computer science experience needed. Instructional videos guide students through each activity, allowing you to work with students individually.

It’s Computer Science Education Week 2017, and what better way to celebrate than by drawing attention to a program that comes at the subject matter from an entirely new direction.

Lila Finch, a PhD student in my lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, has designed a set of learning experiences that teach computer science alongside art and biology.

CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.

The activities introduce students to Computational Thinking through concepts such as binary numbers, algorithms and data compression, separated from the distractions and technical details of having to use computers. Importantly, no programming is required to engage with these ideas!

CS Unplugged is suitable for people of all ages, from elementary school to seniors, and from many countries and backgrounds. Unplugged has been used around the world for over twenty years, in classrooms, science centers, homes, and even for holiday events in a park!

In the ever-changing technological world, computer science is not only becoming more prominent in classrooms, but a staple in education. Computer science combines the principles of technology and use of computers to educate learners on both the hardware and software of computer technology. The field of computer science is exceptionally diverse, as the skill sets are in-demand across practically every industry—serving as a lucrative and stable career pathway.

In addition, computer science has many facets, meaning educators can leverage various components of the field to reach students across all levels and learning abilities. With technology present in almost every classroom, educators have a greater opportunity to implement computer science lessons throughout the curriculum. This provides students with the knowledge and skills required to help follow job market trends when they graduate.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) – the post-secondary institution recognized for integrating education and industry – is announcing a partnership with Microsoft Corp. and its Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program to teach foundation computational skills for BC high-school students. This partnership recognizes the value of exposing young learners to the jobs of the future while equipping them with the appropriate knowledge and skills for success in the future tech workforce.


With support from the BC Ministry of Education and BCIT, the BC branch of TEALS has already educated more than 400 students across four BC high schools. Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft TEALS exists because many high schools want to offer computer science courses but often don’t have teachers who are trained on the subject. To fill this gap, TEALS volunteers work with classroom teachers to team-teach students, and to equip instructors with the knowledge to teach students on their own.

Forecasts report that computer science skills will be essential for the future workforce, creating a need for K–12 experts to work harder to incorporate such lessons into the curriculum. 

According to the App Association, there will be approximately 1 million unfilled computing jobs in 2024. Research conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that number could be reached by 2020. These findings have put a fire underneath educators and K–12 organizations to refocus efforts to teach computer science skills.

“We don’t just need computer science graduates to fill computing jobs; we need people with technical abilities to fill jobs in almost every industry,” Victoria Espinel, president of Software.org: the BSA Foundation and chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Digital Economy and Society, writes in a blog post. “Those jobs will be created by advancements in software, and kids need to prepare now for those possibilities. They won’t all need computer science degrees, but basic digital literacy will be essential.”

Computer science isn’t just about writing programs. Students need to learn concepts such as computational thinking, algorithms and efficiency.

Here we have provided a short unplugged activity where students will use features and yes/no questions to build a decision tree. Students are encouraged to focus on efficiency and build a tree with the shortest number of steps. The activity is based on classifying the planets, so is suitable for a computer science or a science class.

There are a couple of extension options at the end for students who move through this more quickly or for those that need a challenge.

This activity is best done in groups, so students can discuss which questions and what order make for the most efficient process. Working in a group encourages them to articulate their thoughts and listen to others’ views, rather than just using trial and error.

Students will write an algorithm for classifying different planets. We are going to start small, with just 4 planets.

Instructions

Math matters for computer science because it teaches students how to use abstract language, work with algorithms, self-analyze their computational thinking, and accurately modeling real-world solutions.

Students in the United States are being left behind in the great race of the technological revolution. The reality is our country’s students are not competing with talent from other nations, whose students pursue careers in computer science more often. A projection of computer and information technology career growth by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals this sector will expand 12 percent between 2014 and 2024. With an estimated 488,500 new roles expected to be introduced, the median salary for these roles is also expected to grow from an already high $82,860 in May 2016.

Another alarming trend is the tendency for women and people of color to bypass careers in computer science. In January 2016, under Barack Obama’s presidency, The White House revealed its plan to increase student engagement for girls and young students of color who were underrepresented in computer science and noted, “…in the fewer than 15 percent of all high schools that offered any Advanced Placement (AP) CS courses in 2015, only 22 percent of those who took the exam were girls, and only 13 percent were African-American or Latino students.” To ensure students are prepared for careers in computer science, start education in this subject early and use the following strategies to ignite interest in this field.

Schools around the world are adapting their curriculum to focus on digital technology and computer science. Tim Bell, founder of CS Unplugged, shares ideas for any educator looking to get started with computer science education.