K-12 Schools not Adopting Computer Science

Kids Learning to Code in Scratch

The big internet giant Google has been punting for kids learning computer science in a big way and conducted a huge survey to understand why schools are not adopting this practice. It is the new literacy, and with an expected 1 million jobs that will go unfulfilled by the year 2020 in programming there has never been a time like now for kids to learn this all-important skill.

So why in the world are k-12 schools not adopting the practice of kids learning computer science? We set out to find out why this essential tool for tomorrow’s leaders is being excluded from school curricula.

There will be more than 1.3 Million Computer Science Jobs in the Year 2022

If any company has a vested interest in fostering a strong talent pool of computer scientists, it’s Google. Because of this they set out to learn why schools in the US aren’t adopting computer science in their curricula. In a big surveyconducted with Gallup, Google found a range of unbelievable reasons why more K-12 students aren’t learning computer science skills. The most surprising finding is that schools don’t think that the demand is actually there. However there is clearly a need as the survey states that “Underscoring the increasing demand for people with computer science skills in the labor market, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that jobs in computer and mathematical occupations will increase by 18% in the 10 years leading up to 2022, creating more than 1.3 million job openings by 2022.”

Google and Gallup Survey Thousands

Google and Gallup spent a year and a half surveying thousands of students, parents, teachers, principals, and superintendents across the US. And it’s not that parents don’t want their kids learning computer science. A staggering nine in ten parents surveyed viewed computer science education as a good use of school resources. There however seems to be a gap between the actual demand and the perceived demand.

“Most principals and superintendents surveyed say it is important to offer computer science education,” the survey’s authors wrote. “However, given the tendency to prioritize subjects that are included in required testing, computer science is not a top priority.”

Even more worrying is that the people who are there to represent the interests of parents and communities just don’t understand it.

“Less than half of principals and superintendents surveyed say their school board thinks offering computer science education is important,” the research found.

Kids need Early Exposure to Computer Science to Attract them to the Field

Of course computer science can be learned from scratch when kids enter college, but it has been found that those kids who are exposed to computer science in their early education will attract more people to the field. According to another study conducted by Google last year, those who had the opportunity to take an advanced-placement computer science exam were 46 percent more likely to show an interest in a computer science major.

And just about everybody involved in educating kids seems to agree that this exposure to kids learning computer science is crucial. The majority of parents, teachers, principals and superintendents said they thought computer science was just as important to a student’s future success as math, science, history and English. Two-thirds of parents surveyed said computer science should be required learning in schools; in lower-income households, parents were even more likely to hold that view.

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Happy Coding with Brittany-

GRADES 1-2 STARTS DECEMBER 15. EVERY TUESDAY AT 6 PM FOR 4 WEEKS. FREE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, HOMESCHOOLS.

GRADES K

Hello everyone! My name is Brittany, and I am a Co-founder and instructor for Happy Code Club. In this class, we are going to learn the basics of Scratch to start your coding journey! We will break down coding concepts in a way that is easier to understand through a series of fun, creative, and engaging projects that are all created the way you want! It is your creative masterpiece. Students will have access to a recording for each class in case they want to rewatch the class or weren’t able to attend on a specific day. We will all learn coding together!
Technology required: Wifi, Chromebook, pc, or mac, two button mouse is recommended. (no tablets please). Registration is open through Dec 13 so don’t hesitate and register now. Please feel free to email brittany@happycodeclub.com if you have any questions, comments, or concerns!

Happy Coding with Brittany-

GRADES K STARTS DECEMBER 15. EVERY TUESDAY AT 5 PM FOR 4 WEEKS. FREE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, HOMESCHOOLS

GRADES K

Hello everyone! My name is Brittany, and I am a Co-founder and instructor for Happy Code Club. In this class, we are going to learn programming through a very kid-friendly app and other resources to get their brains thinking about code. We will create a variety of projects using basic block codes and play games that focus on problem solving and critical thinking. This program is designed to be the very first step in their coding journey without being overwhelming or too
advanced! We will all learn coding together!
Technology required: Tablet only. Registration is open through Dec 13 so don’t hesitate and register now. Please feel free to email brittany@happycodeclub.com if you have any questions, comments, or concerns!

Happy Coding with Brittany-

Game Design with Scratch Jr.

Grades: 3-5

Introduction to programming with Scratch will show you around the interface and have you making a fun project in minutes. This easy to learn program is super fun as it allows you to create artistic characters, scenes, and objects and animate them with computer code.
If you are curious about what coding is or simply want to try something new, this is a fun class to try. See why millions of students from around the world are sharing their awesome creations on the Scratch platform. The creations students make range from Stories, Games, animations, music and more! Get your creativity hats on and come and check this out!

Technology Requirements: Chromebooks or PC or Mac with wifi and a two button mouse recommended.

Links to class tools used Scratch Zoom Client installation

Prerequisites: No previous experience necessary. Ability to use a two button mouse; ability to hold objects on the screen and move them with left mouse button and keyboarding isrecommended.

Happy Coding with Fernando-

Intro to Game Design in Scratch

Grades: 3-5

Introduction to programming with Scratch will show you around the interface and have you making a fun project in minutes. This easy to learn program is super fun as it allows you to create artistic characters, scenes, and objects and animate them with computer code.
If you are curious about what coding is or simply want to try something new, this is a fun class to try. See why millions of students from around the world are sharing their awesome creations on the Scratch platform. The creations students make range from Stories, Games, animations, music and more! Get your creativity hats on and come and check this out!
Technology Requirements: Chromebooks or PC or Mac with wifi and a two button mouse recommended. Links to class tools used Scratch Zoom Client installation
Prerequisites: No previous experience necessary. Ability to use a two button mouse; ability to hold objects on the screen and move them with left mouse button and keyboarding is recommended.

Happy Coding

Winter Dates: Nov 30 – Jan 28

This winter join students from other schools in a zoom class that you can take from your school or home.
This after school club is free for public schools classrooms Grades 3-5 and it will be run for 6-8 weeks in Winter and Spring of 2021 Taught by Happy Code Club teachers with experience in various subjects including Scratch, Python, codehs.com, code.org, Robotics and more.
Winter Dates: Nov 30 – Jan 28