District to Observe Computer Science Week, December 6-10

Disponible en: Español

Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) is an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students’ interest in computer science. Initially conceived by Computing in the Core, a non-partisan coalition, Code.org® and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) organize CSEdWeek as a campaign supported by 350 partners and 100,000 educators worldwide. CSEdWeek is held to recognize computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (b. December 9, 1906).

Campus CSEdWeek Activities

In Aldine ISD, K-12 students will participate in activities that promote and encourage interest in computer science. This year, using resources the district provided, each campus has determined its activities and how students will participate in Hour of Code.

The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science. It was designed to demystify “code” and show that anybody can learn the basics. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts. A primary objective is to broaden participation in the field of computer science.

To learn more, check with your child’s school.

Student Panel Discussions

Dr. Jocelyn McDonald, Aldine ISD STEM program director, will also be hosting internal panel discussions. Students and teachers will their experiences and the impact computer science has had on their lives. The sessions will be prerecorded and then posted. McDonald will host three panels throughout the week and will be posted the same day a recording takes place.

Teen Tech LIVE‘s public event, presented by Dream Hustle Code, will be on December 10, starting at 11:00 a.m. (CST). Teen Tech LIVE’s goal is to have more teens from underserved and underrepresented communities see themselves in tech careers. Davis Ninth Grade School student Madelyn Flores has been selected to participate.

District Computer Science Program

McDonald is leading the district’s commitment to providing computer science education to all students. AISD has a partnership with Microsoft TEALS to develop computer science teachers and bring industry professionals into the classrooms. Currently, Aldine ISD offers multiple courses in middle school: 1) Introduction to Computer Science, 2) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and App Design, and 3) Fundamentals of Computer Science, which is a high school credit course offered to eighth-graders.

Career and technology education (CTE) courses typically have a Program of Study, which is a pathway that leads to an endorsement when a student graduates. The only campus with a Computer Science Program of Study is Blanson CTE HS, a Choice School — students must apply for admission to any Choice School in the district. The district provides access to computer science to students attending comprehensive high schools.

The work in computer science builds the district’s strategic plan, A New Way Forward. AISD continues to build a school culture of equity and inclusivity. Giving students access and cultivating interest in CS early and through high school also ensures students have the tools and skills for success in college, career, and life.

Recently, Aldine was selected as 1 of 1,000 school districts in the U.S. to receive an Amazon Future Engineers sponsorship with the nonprofit BootUp PD. BootUp trains teachers to empower their students through long-term professional development as they become creators, collaborators, communicators, logical thinkers, and real-world problem-solvers. Aldine ISD is in Year 2 of the sponsorship. The program is geared toward providing students with early exposure to computer science and computational thinking at the elementary level. The district is committed to having all elementary campuses adopt these practices.

AISD Moves to Close the Gap in CS by Building Confidence

New to the district, McDonald has 16 years in education. She previously worked for Houston ISD. McDonald has eight years in educational technology (EdTech) — her doctorate is in educational technology. She describes herself as a first-generation college graduate. McDonald double majored in computer science and chemistry after being exposed to computer science in a one-semester course in high school.

McDonald is passionate about closing equity gaps in STEM and providing opportunities for students to thrive in the 21st century. She also seeks to empower lower socioeconomic communities to embrace technology, which offers many opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. An aspect includes breaking down stereotypes and preconceived thinking.

“We don’t want students and staff approaching computer science with a fixed mindset of who will do well or be a programmer,” said McDonald. “If students think they have to be ‘geeks,’ they won’t believe that they have the capabilities to see a future in computer science or other STEM-related fields. We focus our program on good teachers teaching good strategies and structuring students’ learning successfully. We also know that while teaching good strategies is important, self-belief is powerful in driving students to succeed and pursue STEM careers.”

Instead of teaching computer science conventionally (rote learning), McDonald stated AISD would use a strategy where students think (conceptual learning) through a coding problem with intervention from teachers. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and think creatively to increase their problem-solving skills and self-belief.

White males predominantly dominate the computer science field. McDonald knows that minorities and females are underrepresented. She wants to change that.

“Students need to feel empowered,” said McDonald. “We will focus on teamwork and inclusion. The goal is to build a culture of affirmation and belonging. By creating an inclusive community and a space for all, students will thrive now and in their future.”

Demand in CS

There is strong computer science job demand for computer science experts in government and public sectors, corporations of all sizes, nonprofit organizations, and colleges and universities nationwide.

“Few careers offer as many opportunities as computer science to solve challenging issues facing the global economy. It’s vitally important that we continue to advocate for strong computer science education programs to ensure that the nation has the skilled workforce it desperately needs,” said John White, CEO of the ACM.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the computer science field is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. It will also add about 557,100 new jobs.