Computer Science Education:Building the Pipeline

Ruthe Farmer, MBADirector of Strategic InitiativesNational Center for Women & Information Technology

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Agenda What is NCWIT?

“Unpacking” STEM: The Importance of Computer Science Education

The Current State of Computer Science Education

Sample Data Set: Congressional District 16

Intervention Efforts & Resources

Q & A

To increase women’s meaningful participation in computing & IT.

Identify why there aren't more women in IT

Identify what research and interventions can best attract and retain women – promising practices

Leverage existing, effective efforts & practices

Build a united, national coalition for reform

The NCWIT Mission

The NCWIT 3-Prong Strategy

A coalition of over 200 organizations and growing:

• Universities

• Corporations

• Entrepreneurs

• K-12 organizations

• Affinity Groups

NCWIT Members

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Critical for Advancing Nearly All Other STEM Disciplines

Physics

Biology

Chemistry

Astronomy

Materials Science

Mathematics

Biochemistry

Molecular Biology

Botany

Anatomical Sciences

Cellular Biology

Immunology

Zoology

Genetics

Physiology

ToxicologyPharmacology

Bioinformatics

Ecology

Population Biology

AstrophysicsMeteorology

Atmospheric Sciences

Statistics

Geology

Earth Sciences

Aerospace Engineering

Bioengineering

Civil Engineering

Computer Engineering

Chemical EngineeringMechanical Engineering

Nuclear Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Textile Sciences

Industrial Engineering

Electrical Engineering

• The creation and adaptation of new technology

• A source of 21st-century skills: design, critical thinking, logical reasoning, problem-solving

• The foundation for most innovation today, from biotech to economics to national security

What Is Computer Science (CS)?

Robotics

Graphics

Game Development

NetworksSketch RecognitionSoftware

Systems

Computer Science Is …

Computer Science Jobs Are Plentiful, Lucrative, Interesting, and Flexible

• Computing-related jobs rank among the top-10 fastest-growing occupations

• By 2018, there will be nearly 1.4 million computing-related jobs available

• Computing-related jobs have some of the highest entry-level salaries of any bachelor's degree

• Computer scientists enjoy a wide range of career options (e.g., film, finance, health care, journalism, security, music, etc.)

• Even in a recession, computing-related job postings are growing

Bureau of Labor Statistics Monthly Labor Review 2009; The Conference Board, 2010

Computing Jobs Are Growing Faster than Other STEM Jobs

Women and Minorities Are an Untapped Resource for U.S. Computing Jobs

But U.S. K-12 CS Education Is Failing to Prepare Our Students for These Jobs

College Board, The 5th Annual AP Report to the Nation, February 4, 2009; CS course offerings (CSTA 2009 survey)

This Is a Educational Failing that Requires a National Intervention

Source: Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

Make CS a core competency

Diversify computing

Better prepare formal & informal educators

Without this intervention, CS education will continue to fade

One Startling Example…

Population 651,619 (2000 census)

Example: Texas District 16, Rep. Reyes More Jobs, Fewer Interested Students

Example: Texas District 16, ContinuedMore Jobs, Fewer Candidates with Degrees

Addressing the Problem

• Leverage the NCWIT full pipeline infrastructure of corps, K-12, academia

• Provide free, high quality, research based resources

• Raise awareness of the importance of computing education for all kids

Intervention: Programs

Award for Aspirations in Computing• Find & recognize girls active in computing

• Low-hanging fruit – keep them in the pipeline

• 455 ‘winners’ thus far

• 2668 girls registered in last round

• Anticipate 10,000+ girls by 2012

• Provide support system & peer connections

www.aspirationsaward.org

Intervention: Programs

CS Education Week• Raise awareness of the critical role of

computer science in an information economy

• Expose K-12 students to computer science

• Highlight the challenges facing CS education

• Engage supporters in the effort

www.csedweek.org

Intervention: Collaborative Campaigns

Dot DIVA

www.dotdiva.org

Net New Women & Pacesetters

www.netnewwomen.com

Improving CS Education

www.ncwit.org/cseducation

Intervention: Resources

NCWIT Talking Points Cards

• What to say to a young person about a career in IT?

• Why schools should teach computer science?

• Offering CS Workshops & Camps

• America’s Got Talent – 10K Teachers Project

Download for free at www.ncwit.org

Intervention: Resources

NCWIT Programs in a Box for K-12Turnkey K-12 outreach solutions for educators and professionals.

• Computer Science Unplugged

• Outreach in a Box

• New! Roadshow in a Box

Download for free at www.ncwit.org

Other Resources Are Available ACM/CSTA- www.csta.acm.org

CDC Tapia Conference and ABI Grace Hopper Celebration

http://tapiaconference.org/2009/

http://gracehopper.org/2010/

National Engineers Week www.eweek.org

AAUW Report “Why So Few?” www.aauw.org

White House Project Benchmarking Study www.whitehouseproject.org

Questions?