An increasing number of schools are adopting STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) instruction into classrooms as pressure builds for school systems to produce technologically literate students for U.S. global competitiveness. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education seems to highlight efforts of a new non-profit organization, Code.org, which promotes teaching computer coding in K-12.
Launched this year by brothers Hadi Partovi and Ali Partovi, the goal of the program is to make computer science and programming accessible to everyone.
According to data published by Pavarti, there will be more than 1.4 computer jobs by 2020 and an undersupply of 400,000 computer science students. Additionally, less than 2.4% of U.S. college students study computer science, producing a smaller percentage of computer programmers than a decade prior. Visit their website for a complete list of data.
ED recently published, "Through CODE.org, Hadi Partovi is rightly asserting the need to include the teaching in K-12 schools of computer science amongst the critical STEM disciplines."
More states have begun to fully implement CC standards this year, which, although outline math and language arts objectives, lack a clear STEM focus. Virginia is one of five states to not have adopted Common Core. This places the state in a strategic position to use its flexibility to create new state STEM curricula--a thought the Department of Education is evidently considering on a policy level.
What are your thoughts on ED's nod of approval for private efforts to train K-12 in computer programming? How would you feel about Virginia piloting state STEM standards?
For comments, questions, or story ideas, email Janice Chong at contactjanicechong@gmail.com.
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