Argumentative Essay On Computer Science
MARYSVILLE, Wash. — Moving her finger over the laptop trackpad, 6-year-old Lauren Meek drags and drops a block of code to build a set of instructions. She clicks the "run" button and watches as the character moves through a maze. Then she pumps her fist excitedly.
"Yes! This is so easy," says Meek, a kindergartner at Marshall Elementary in Marysville, north of Seattle.
This fall, most elementary school students in the Marysville School District are getting 40-minute weekly computer science lessons as part of their core instruction. The lessons are part of a growing effort nationwide to expose more public school children to computer science, even as early as in kindergarten.
A Foundation For Life
Backed by technology leaders, nonprofits and …show more content…
More jobs require computer science, Century noted.
"Just as important is the fact that computing is everywhere in our lives," she said.
Not Enough Computer-Science Teachers
One of the challenges is finding enough teachers who are well-prepared to teach computer science. Among other efforts, the National Science Foundation wants to have 10,000 well-trained computer science teachers in thousands of high schools.
Currently, computer science is taught in only about 1 in 4 high schools nationwide. Fewer lower middle and elementary schools teach computer science. Only 27 states allow a computer science course to be counted toward graduation requirements in math or science, according to Code.org.
Still, there has been a surge in interest in recent years. In 2015, nearly 49,000 students took the Advanced Placement exam in computer science, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.
"Colleges are saying, 'There's an incredible demand. We'd like to see more students become better prepared when they get here,'" said Terry Redican. He is vice president of the Advanced Placement program at The College
"Yes! This is so easy," says Meek, a kindergartner at Marshall Elementary in Marysville, north of Seattle.
This fall, most elementary school students in the Marysville School District are getting 40-minute weekly computer science lessons as part of their core instruction. The lessons are part of a growing effort nationwide to expose more public school children to computer science, even as early as in kindergarten.
A Foundation For Life
Backed by technology leaders, nonprofits and …show more content…
More jobs require computer science, Century noted.
"Just as important is the fact that computing is everywhere in our lives," she said.
Not Enough Computer-Science Teachers
One of the challenges is finding enough teachers who are well-prepared to teach computer science. Among other efforts, the National Science Foundation wants to have 10,000 well-trained computer science teachers in thousands of high schools.
Currently, computer science is taught in only about 1 in 4 high schools nationwide. Fewer lower middle and elementary schools teach computer science. Only 27 states allow a computer science course to be counted toward graduation requirements in math or science, according to Code.org.
Still, there has been a surge in interest in recent years. In 2015, nearly 49,000 students took the Advanced Placement exam in computer science, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.
"Colleges are saying, 'There's an incredible demand. We'd like to see more students become better prepared when they get here,'" said Terry Redican. He is vice president of the Advanced Placement program at The College