Computer Science for Everyone

It's true, 21st century learning is about a lot more than digital technology - it's about creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication, among other things (P21 Framework,  What are 21st century skills?, Personalized Learning BC). On the other hand, the impact of digital technology on learning and living in the 21st century is pervasive. Digital media are changing how people work, communicate, play, interact, think and learn. So, it's important not to give digital technology secondary status when we talk about 21st century learning.

The more I learn about how integrated the digital layer is becoming in human life, the more I feel connected to and concerned about the learning needs of my students, both now and in their futures. We have an incredible responsibility to reform education and incorporate digital technology with best practices in pedagogy. More than that, we need to help students grow into citizens who understand, on a deep and critical level, just how our computer-dependent world works.

In order to do this, I have come to believe we need to teach computer systems and computer science to all students, just like we teach math, science, language arts and social studies. By this I mean the logic, mathematics, science, and languages that make computers work. Some educators call this "computational thinking." It isn't "IT" education (which teaches students how to operate the technology); computer science is about understanding how computers work, and the thinking that people do to make computers work.

In my experience, those who understand programming and systems are also those who understand the implications of policies and laws affecting digital communication - including copyright, the collection and responsible sharing of data, freedom of access to information, and protection of privacy. I think there are reasons for this correlation, rooted in the kind of thinking taught in computer science. Understanding how information and communication technology actually works might just be vital to understanding how it can be used to either promote or prevent true democracy.

Many other people have come to the same conclusions. Here in North America and in the UK, organizations have been working for some time on defining computer science as a unique core subject area in K-12 (primary and secondary) schools (Computing at Schools UK Curriculum, CSTA K-12 Standards). I am throwing my hat into that ring. At this point in my career as an educator, I am making a commitment to promote computer science education in all schools, and help educate teachers so that this is done in the deepest and broadest possible way. There is much work to do, and many questions about how to do it, as we move forward within the context of evolving curriculum in a rapidly changing world.