Insight on Technology

3 Insight on Technology Fe b r u a r y 2 019 M A R Y B E T H M AT Z E K , M A N A G IN G ED I T O R M M AT Z E K @ I N S I G H T O N B U S I N E S S .C O M In the few short months the Insight team has worked on Insight on Technology, I have learned a lot about IT. Two pieces of knowledge, however, stand out: the high demand for qualified IT work- ers and the lack of computer science and tech skills being taught to K-12 students. Sure, students learn the basics of how to work a computer, but many don't learn about coding or more advanced computer skills. Computer science educa- tion programs var y dramati- cally among high schools. In Wisconsin, only 17 percent of high schools offer the AP computer science course. There are several reasons for that low figure, including the lack of qualified instructors to teach the course. And let's be honest about another reason: There are not many students interested in taking computer science courses. My two high school students brought home their class selection materials for next year and I asked both of them if they were interested in taking one of the school's IT courses. They both looked at me blankly, adding they don't plan to work in IT. I pointed out whatever career they end up in, tech skills will be needed. That caught their attention. I don't know if I convinced them — they have a few more weeks to finalize their sched- ule — but it shows parents, along with schools, need to do more to get students interested in computer science courses. Whether a student is heading to a four- year university, tech school or right into the job market, improved computer skills will help set them apart. A t t he col lege le ve l , compute r sc ie nce a nd i n for mation systems have been t aug ht for dec ade s a nd t he i r c u r r ic u l a h ave become relatively stable, a lthough new topics — such as cyber- secu r it y, d at a a n a ly tics a nd AI — mu st be i ncor po- rated consta ntly. At the K-12 level, however, the idea of including digita l and computer science ski l ls as part of the regu lar curricu lum is newer, which ma kes that debate more intense. In Northeast Wisconsin, the NEW IT Alliance and Microsoft's TechSpark have partnered to launch the NE W CS Advisor y Board focused on helping school districts find solutions to the cha llenges involved in holistica l ly incor porating I T a nd computer science skills throughout the curriculum. Whi le we a re just getting sta rted, we have a lready made some good strides, with forma l CS/I T advisor y boa rd s for med i n a few sc hool d i st r ict s, i nc lud i ng Hortonvi l le, Sheboyga n a nd K imberly. S c hool d i st r ic t s a re con sider i ng i mpor t a nt a nd difficu lt issues a round computer science a nd digita l ski l ls education in their schools, such as: • Shou ld ever y chi ld learn how to code? • Is computer science the new libera l arts? • What counts as computer science education? • Who is qua lified to teach computer science? • How do we find qua lified instr uctors? • How early shou ld computer science be taught? • Will skills taught in middle and high school tra nslate into col lege requirements? T hrough the NE W CS Advisor y Board, compa nies and higher education institutions are helping districts d iscuss a nd fi nd a nswers to t hese issues. For exa m- ple, it is looking at how to create new degree programs focused on upski l ling and qua lifying teachers to teach these new subjects. Many groups representing schools, colleges, companies and government are discussing the need for IT skills, what is taught and how it is taught. The NEW IT Alliance is engaging with these entities as they debate many questions. K I M I V E R S E N , D I R E C T O R , N E W I T A L L I A N C E CS advisory boards help find IT education solutions FOREWORD Solving these issues wi l l ta ke a l l of us working together. If you would like to help, contact your local school district to help it start or grow its local CS Advisory Board. We also welcome help in the regional NEW CS Advisory Board. You can find informa- tion about our next meetings and how to register on the NEW IT Alliance website. School districts interested in creating a CS advisor y board can contact the NE W I T Alliance to discuss how to move forward. Severa l other organizations a lso have stepped in to help support increasing digi- tal literacy and computer science education in our schools. Women in Technology offers WIT4Girls clubs for middle school girls to learn about IT careers, and Girls Who Code starts in third grade and helps girls work on coding skills. Microsoft TEALS is focused on bringing computer science education into the classroom by pairing a volunteer IT professional with a high school teacher to offer a programming class. O u r hop e i s t h at by e n ac t i ng t he se changes, not only will employers have the IT talent they seek, but our youth will grad- uate from high school and college ready to enter an increasingly digita l workforce, regardless of their chosen field.

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