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12/05/2016 11:37 am ET Updated Dec 06, 2017Celebrating Computer Science Education Week 2016:Investing in Computer Science for All Will Be Key to College and Career Readiness By JD Hoye The first week of December has been designated Computer Science Education Week. Created by the Computing in the Core coalition, the week is geared towards activities that encourage students to learn more about computer science. NAF is proud to join in the celebration and support this outstanding program that makes the benefits of computer science education accessible across the K-12 spectrum. Investing in computer science, STEM education, and technology is essential to keep up with our nation’s competitive economy. Today’s students are the technology experts of tomorrow and by supplying the most relevant curriculum, applied-learning experiences, and networks, they will have everything they need to flex their innovative muscles and fuel the most in-demand, high-earning careers out there. According to Glassdoor , STEM majors top the list when it comes to the highest paying careers. One example is computer science, with a median base salary of $70,000 during the first five years after college graduation. Some of the most prevalent introductory positions include software engineer, systems engineer, and web developer. Regardless of intended major or course plan, all students should have the opportunity to sharpen their skills and be well versed in the nuts and bolts of this discipline, as it relates to success in all of today’s careers, ranging from engineering to hospitality. Getting involved in Computer Science Education Week is easier than ever and could range from planning a lesson or activity during class time to participating in the Hour of Code - a global movement that reaches over 100 million students in more than 180 countries and provides the opportunity for every student to learn about computer science. Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science for all students. NAF has made a serious investment in STEM education and has dedicated nearly 350 academies to STEM-related areas - with approximately 50,000 students enrolled in these STEM-based curriculum programs across America. By investing in STEM education, business partners are also able to use their abilities to shape America’s future workforce at the local and national levels. They are given exclusive access to a diverse talent pool early on, and can begin to develop the pipeline that will determine their company and industry’s futures. NAF’s STEM advisory committee addresses the growing roles that STEM plays in the nation’s economy. The committee is made up of top executives within STEM industries and offers opportunities for these leaders to exchange perspectives in order to better understand industry talent pipeline needs and attract a diverse population to their businesses. NAF students across the country are applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations every day. Some examples of tangible events include the upcoming hackathon at Pathways Academy of Technology & Design in East Hartford, CT, that will teach middle schools girls how to develop apps, while nurturing their interest and skills in computer science. This full-day program allows for mentorship and collaboration and the opportunity for young women to devise solutions to existing societal problems. Global tech company, Lenovo, will also be joining with NAF this December and sponsoring a Twitter Chat for academies within the Lenovo Scholar Network. This unique and interactive forum for communication will connect NAF students with top Lenovo executives in the field and allow them time to gain insight about topics related to college, career, and technology. Programs like Computer Science Education Week upholds the principles of innovation, inclusion, and accessibility, which are key elements of our mission. By coming together, we can prepare the next generation of leaders to truly be college, career, and future ready. Our students are the drivers of success in our world and we look forward to all of the ground-breaking contributions to come. ___________________________ Glassdoor Berry, Allison. “50 Highest Paying College Majors.” Web blog post. Glassdoor. N.p., 17 Oct. 2016. Web. 04 Nov. 2016. . Follow JD Hoye on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NAFCareerAcads Digital Literacy & Online Safety Links
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Why doesn’t every school offer computer science classes?Originally published March 4, 2015 at 6:00 am Updated March 4, 2015 at 9:16 am
Seattle Times illustrationPublic schools should teach computer science — it’s a skill set all employers need. Share story By Hadi Partovi Special to The TimesWHEN I was 9, my father gave my brother and me a life-changing gift: a Commodore 64 computer. It didn’t have any games, so I would learn to make my own. A world of opportunity and creativity opened up to me when I began learning how to program that computer. By my teenage years, I landed jobs as a computer programmer when my friends were baby-sitting or waiting tables. I graduated with a job at Microsoft and went on to enjoy a successful career in technology. As an immigrant, I’m living the American dream. Yet, 30 years after I came to the United States, I look around and wonder, why aren’t America’s schools offering the opportunity I had to every 21st-century child? Some of the biggest success stories in Washington history — from Bill Gates to Jeff Bezos — began like mine, with the opportunity to learn how to create technology. Yet, in Washington state — where Microsoft changed the world in establishing a market for personal computers, where Amazon.com changed the way the we shop and where startups like Expedia, Zillow, Redfin and Zulily are changing the future of our state’s economy — the majority of students in K-12 schools statewide cannot take a single course in computer science. Formerly of Microsoft, Hadi Partovi is entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of education nonprofit Code.org. It’s time for the Washington to do more. This is a problem we can solve. We are solving it. Today, more than 50 top business and education leaders unite — from Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks to the Chamber of Commerce, University of Washington and Washington Education Association — calling for legislation to address the issue comprehensively. There are 20,000 open computing jobs in Washington across all industries, according to The Conference Board. Did you know the most common job posting in Washington is a software developer? Software jobs are growing at three times the state average and these jobs aren’t only in tech. Two-thirds of the nation’s computing jobs are in other industries, at places like Boeing, Nordstrom or the Washington State Department of Transportation. Skeptics might ask, must every child learn to code? What if my child doesn’t want to become an engineer? Computer science is about more than learning to code or getting a job. It’s foundational for all 21st-century students, who don’t go a waking minute without technology. In every school, students learn about photosynthesis or electricity, even if they don’t choose careers as botanists or electricians. For today’s students, it’s equally foundational to learn what an algorithm is or how the Internet works. I can’t imagine a career that won’t be disrupted by technology in the next decade. Yet, most of our schools don’t give students a chance to study it. Ninety-three percent of Washington high schools don’t offer Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science. Among AP test takers for the course last year, only 260 out of 1,048 were female, reports the College Board. Only 48 were black or Hispanic. Last year, the state only saw 1,200 computer-science degrees awarded at the university level. Two years ago, my brother and I started Code.org, a small Seattle nonprofit with a simple idea: Every student in every school deserves the opportunity to learn computer science. This idea has grown into an international movement, reaching 100,000 schools in 180 countries. The support of millions of parents, students and teachers in every state has shown us that this is an idea whose time has come. Usually people wonder if schools can adapt — especially when they struggle with so many demands and limited funding. But today we see the teachers union, universities and school-district superintendents joining forces with tech companies in support of computer science. According to a Washington STEM poll published last month, nine out of 10 Washington voters support expanding computer science by helping more K-12 teachers with training and curriculum. It’s time for our Legislature to get on board. This session, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by State Reps. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, and Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, has the potential to drastically increase access to computer science in our schools. SHB 1813 establishes education standards and matches private funding to train teachers, two steps critical to expanding access to this field. Providing funding for computer science would prepare young people for the best opportunities of tomorrow. A $10 million investment in computer science in our schools can unlock a billion dollars in opportunities. In 2013, Washington sparked a national movement by passing legislation to allow high school computer-science courses to count for graduation. With Code.org’s support, 15 other states followed our lead. There are already similar efforts in Arkansas, Utah and Kentucky to substantially invest in computer science. Today, we have the chance to impact students not only in our state, but nationwide. Together, let’s give a united answer to the parent who asks, “Why doesn’t my child’s school teach computer science?” Formerly of Microsoft, Hadi Partovi is entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of education nonprofit Code.org. |