Computer science concepts and courses should be introduced early and built upon often in order to avoid having students adopt stereotypes. “Kids should not be moving out of 8th grade without exposure to computer science courses,” Yongpradit says. The older they get, the more likely they are to see the field of computer science as limited to those who want to be programmers.
Yongradit noted, “Introducing students to computer science should be about building their self-efficacy and interest. Teachers do this by leveling the playing field. We don’t start with coding. Start with other topics in computer science. Computer science is about empowering kids to create things with a computer.”
For teachers who want to introduce coding into the classroom, Carlos Contreras, Intel’s original public affairs director says, “It’s about putting the students in the middle of the learning. Once they have an idea of what they want to do, the learning comes in. You have to allow the kid to fail. How do you allow that in the classroom where you are constrained with time?”
Related: Why Students Should Code and How to Get Started
Recognizing that overcoming the intimidation and time hurdles can be obstacles for teachers, Contreras said, “We do a lot of work to extend learning beyond the classroom.” Providing resources where teachers can build their confidence makes integrating content into the classroom a lot easier. Toward that end, Contreras noted, “This summer we are training about 80 teachers on how to program with Intel’s Galileo Board.”
Intel also funded some of the Scratch development which gives kids the opportunity to create with computers. “Scratch is open, free, online community with lots of examples. If you can type on the keyboard, you can do Scratch,” Contreras said.
To help educators engage students more deeply in the STEM disciplines, NICERC, an academic division of the Cyber Innovation Center, creates hands-on curricula, hosts camps and competitions, and offers professional development and teacher resources. “Coding is a showcase for the math and science that kids are learning,” says G.B. Cazes, Cyber Innovation Center VP.
“It answers the ‘why?’ question by giving them an actual use for what they are learning.”
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