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Time to make computer science part of schools' core curricula
Most schools don't require computer training to graduate
By Paula Harris and Ruthe Farmer | December 7, 2012 | Updated: December 7, 2012 6:50pm
There is a critical shortage of qualified job seekers in the computer science field. Yes, even in this time of high unemployment, thousands of jobs, many of them right here in Houston, go unfilled simply because not enough individuals with the skill set companies need exist to fill these positions.
The problem is deep rooted: In the United States, fewer than 25 percent of students have rigorous computer science courses available to them. In the Houston Independent School District last year, only 150 students took the college-level Advanced Placement Computer Science Exam, and the course is only available in a small number of schools across the nation. Public school districts, HISD included, are not doing enough to prepare students or encourage them to pursue high tech careers. This has to change.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of students participating in computer science training has decreased from 25 percent to 19 percent over the last 20 years. And those who do show an interest in the field find that most public schools simply do not offer an up-to-date, rigorous computer science curriculum.
While STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education is a hot topic in education circles these days, only math and science courses are required for graduation from high school. The few computer science courses that are offered are categorized as electives, not as core courses students need to graduate, so they do not receive the same emphasis as their higher profile STEM counterparts.
We need to start working with students at a young age to spark their interest in technology and computer science. Our children should not just know how to use apps and video games, they should know how to create apps and video games. Some very popular and very profitable apps have been designed by high school students.
We must elevate computer science classes to be part of our core curriculum. We need to train more teachers who are qualified to teach modern state-of-the-art computer science courses, and to find innovative ways to recruit and keep these teachers familiar with the latest technology.
According to Computing in the Core, a nonprofit coalition that advocates for K-12 computer science education, "By 2018, current government projections show that more than 800,000 high-end computing jobs will be created in the economy, making it one of the fastest growing occupational fields."
We need the support, input and commitment from technology companies to help us educate technology-inspired, innovative thinkers to both fill available jobs and pioneer in the field of computer science.
Many opportunities exist for schools, parents, companies and community members to support computer science training in our schools, and we are inviting you to be a part of this technology awareness movement.
Next week, Dec. 9 through Dec. 15, is Computer Science Education Week, an effort to raise awareness and support for computer science education in schools. More information can be found at csedweek.org/about. If you or your company would like to lend your expertise and support to this effort, please contact the Houston ISD Career and Technical Education Department at 713-556-6981 or your local school.
Harris, one of nine elected trustees who make up the Houston Independent School District Board of Education, has worked as an engineer in the energy industry for more than 25 years; Farmer is the director of strategic initiatives for the National Center for Women and Technology Information (NCWIT) and chair for 2012 Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek).