“Better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy”
In Obama’s State of the Union address last month, he said:
“Tonight, I’m announcing a new challenge to redesign America’s high schools so they better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy. We’ll reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and employers, and create classes that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math—the skills today’s employers are looking for to fill jobs right now and in the future.”
He’s not saying so explicitly, but the specific solution to the problems Obama outlines is computer science education in high schools. Let’s take a look at these requirements one at a time.
What are the “demand of a high-tech economy”? The demands of a high-tech economy are creating students that are digitally literate. Computers are used for work, for study, and will become an increasing part of day-to-day life no matter what field you enter. Teaching students to program is about teaching creators, not just consumers. When we say computer science at CodeHS, we mean “problem solving with computers,” and we need to teach this sort of critical thinking to students.
What are “skills today’s employers are looking for to fill jobs right now and in the future”? This one has a clear answer as well. While much of the economy stagnates, there are a small handful of booming fields, and one of those is computer science. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 30% of the 1.4 million jobs created in CS-related fields will be able to be filled by 2020. There are about 100,000 more available jobs in CS-related fields than CS graduates, and this trend is only going to worsen at the current rate.
Why? Because computer science is decreasing, not increasing in high schools. Intro CS courses have decreased by 17% since 2005, and one of the major AP CS tests has been cancelled. Only 5%—yes only 5%—of high schools offer AP CS. There is little interest in the field from many students because, in general, we do a bad job introducing the subject. There are a small handful of amazing CS teachers across the country, and I have been lucky to meet many of them, but most schools do not have a CS teachers. We have a problem conflating a “computer class” or a “technology class” with a “programming” or “computer science class.”
Proficiency in Microsoft word is not equipping our graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy. Teaching reasoning, decomposition, abstract thinking, and problem solving with computers does.
—Jeremy
CodeHS is the best way for high schools to teach computer science. CodeHS provides a curriculum, short instructional videos, in-browser programming exercises, and a support system for teachers and students to get help from experts. CodeHS makes it easy for high schools to implement and fun for students to learn. Our growing library of videos make CodeHS the best place for a beginner to learn CS.
There are lots of site to learn to program, but none is built with the philosophy of CodeHS. CodeHS is about getting started in an accessible and fun way, and providing you the help you need from real people along the way. We have extensive experience teaching thousands of students to program at Stanford, and now at high schools and middle schools across the country, and that is how we built CodeHS.
CodeHS works with lots of teachers, and is building a site that teachers want to use, and one that keeps students engaged. We start with Karel the dog, which is a simple way to get introduced to programming, but we focus on teaching the concepts and problem solving with computers rather than a focus on syntax. We have libraries that make it easier to make real and rewarding progress.
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