Science Education Article

According to NPR columnist Westervelt, the computer science offerings in U.S. for students K-12 has been dropping, even as the need to understand coding is rising in society (Feb. 17, 2014; A Push to boost computer science learning, even at a young age, Retrieved from: http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/02/17/271151462/a-push-to-boost-computer-science-learning-even-at-an-early-age). The number of computer science jobs is increasing and the importance of coding in our everyday lives is steadily increasing; students need to take computer science classes as part of achieving scientific literacy. Even though studies may show that the number of STEM classes as a whole are increasing, the reverse trend is true in regards to computer science. 

Also, according to Westervelt (ibid), some administrators may not even know what computer science is--they may think that computer science is just learning how to use a computer and not coding. This impedes progress further, since the decision-makers in a district may not be aware of this lack in education. Lack of reliable broadband or up-to-date computers also limit the CS education that can be taught in poorer districts. 

I chose this article, since I had absolutely zero interest in ever learning coding as a high school student. I would have been one of the naysayers for much of my education. It was something my engineering friends did in high school (all white males). When we did summer research in undergrad, it was always the white males who had the programming projects. It was only until I got to grad school that I ran my own simulations, but I would never want to take a full class just on computer science (i.e., to learn the foundations properly, beyond what I need for immediate, practical use). 

The article mentioned that among the students who took the AP CS exam (which is how the study of computer science is measured on the national level), there were 11 states in which no black kids took the test, 8 in which no Hispanics took it, and 3 in which no girls took it. This means that there are SES considerations and/or cultural biases that limit full participation of girls and/or children of color from studying CS. I don't feel like my distaste from coding ever arose from being explicitly told that only my guy friends could do it, but there was something in the way I was raised that made computer science seem completely uninteresting until I saw a real, immediate need for it. 

Westervelt also attributes a lack of interest in CS (with 10% of high schools offering the subject) due to its absence in the Common Core, which could also be addressed. I also imagine that there are not as many instructors comfortable with teaching the material as there are instructors interested in teaching other subjects. Overall, the article suggests that there is a need to address the digital divide, promote professional development to ensure more faculty members feel comfortable teaching computer science, hire new staff, and raise awareness so that administrations, parents and the children can understand the need to not only take STEM classes but to be well-rounded in all areas of STEM.