The IT Workforce & Computing Education in Massachusetts

Data, Issues, Options, and ChallengesRick Adrion

Outline

• Characterizing the IT Workforce • The Innovation Economy & Western MA• Computing Education in MA• What CAITE/ECEP and MassCAN are doing

Computing is everywhere!

… and is critical to success of every economic & industry sector

transportationenergy

financehealth care entertainment manufacturing

bio-pharma medical devices

IT Workforce = Apples and Oranges (and Bananas)

BLS Standard Occupational Classification

Internet Marketing Managers Computer and Information Systems Managers Medical Records Administrators Computer Training Specialists Computer and Information Research Scientists Computational Theory Scientists Computer and Information Research Scientists Computer Research Scientists Computer and Information Analysts Computer Systems Analysts Data Processing Systems Analysts Computer Security Specialists Information Security Analysts Computer Programmers Database Developers Software Applications Developers Health Information Coders Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Network and Computer Systems Administrators Computer Network Architects Computer User Support Specialists Desktop Support Specialists End-User Support Specialists Computer Network Support Specialists Computer Laboratory Technicians Computer Hardware Designers Computer Hardware Developers Computer Hardware Engineers Computer Information Systems Professors Computer Science Professors Information Technology Professors Library and Information Science Professors Medical Records Library Professors Multimedia Collections Specialists 3D Animators Multimedia Animators Multimedia Artists Database Security Administrators

Medical Records Specialists Medical Records Technicians Information and Record Clerks Computer OperatorsComputer Peripheral Equipment OperatorsData Entry and Information Processing WorkersData Entry KeyersData Input ClerksDesktop Publishing SpecialistsComputer RepairersData Processing Equipment RepairersComputer Control Programmers and Operators Software Systems Software Developers and Architects Web Developers Database and Systems Administrators and Network ArchitectsDatabase Administrators

Variety of skills and pathways to get them

The MA Innovation Economy

• Massachusetts ranks number 1 nationally in:– knowledge jobs, high tech jobs, managerial,

professional and technical jobs, workforce education

• Massachusetts ranks number 2 nationally in:– fast growing firms, migration to the state of U.S.-

based knowledge workers, broadband telecommunication infrastructure and deployment, health IT, and investments of venture capital.

The 2012 State New Economy Index.Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Where are MA IT Professionals working?

BLS: MA Sectors and MA C&MO

Traditional Tech Sector

What are their jobs?

Computer Systems Software Engineers/Developers, Computer Systems Analysts, and Computer Software Applications Engineers/Developers 2nd, 4th and 5th most in-demand occupations in the Life Sciences Industry alone and are expected to grow 28% - Donahue InstituteBLS: Job Titles and

MA C&MO

Traditional Jobs for BSCS grads

+

What about W MA? Total (not IT) Employment

Total civilian WF = 332,700

Tech Sector

Tech Sector

Massachusetts Demographics – inequity

• By most measures, the MetroWest suburbs have more jobs, income, higher educational levels, & less poverty

Is there a labor market shortage for IT professionals?

• Answer: yes and no– More openings than there are graduates to fill those

positions– Openings vary widely by region

• Traditionally fill openings by importing talent and by keeping non-resident MA college grads

• Computing degrees are not a prerequisite for filling an opening in many sectors, jobs, and regions

Why should we be concerned?

• Why is it important to Massachusetts?– Need to create opportunities broadly not

just in Cambridge & Metro West – Need to create opportunities not just for

traditional IT workers– Need to be attractive to employers across

every economic sector

Is there a shortage? 2013 grads vs proj. openings

IPEDS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, MTC

Grads with computing degrees Openings for computing grads

statewide

STEM Job Openings in Massachusetts

Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce

Almost ½ of openings can be filled by those with degrees in computing

bigger gap

How is K-20 education important?

• Given the demand for graduates with computing, computational thinking and 21st century skills, the education sector is critical– Early access to computing and computational thinking is

needed – no later than the middle school level– But this requires quality curricula and quality teaching at

K-12 and increasing the capacity and breadth in higher education

– Every HS student should have the opportunity to study computing and develop computational thinking skills –computer and information literacy is no longer enough

K-12 Computing Education

• Uneven offerings in MA schools and districts– and computing courses don’t count for graduation nor for

entrance to HE

• Lack of standards– computational thinking in Common Core and ST/E?

– existing national standards for K-12 computing, but not even voluntary standards for computing

• No licensure/certification for teachers; no pre-service programs; limited in-service PD

leads to reduced interest in computing careers or higher education computing programs

The K-12 standards picture

•Changing MA landscape– Common Core: ELA &

Math– New ST/E (NGSS?)– Career & College

Readiness standards– PARCC– MassCAN

•National efforts– code.org– ECS & CSP

MA TechHub Talent Working Group

AP exam taking (MA)

College Board

AP-CS is the only “standard” computing curriculum in MA other than CVTE Programming & Web Design

AP-CS: Participation & Diversity

College Board

Where the schools are:

Districts with more than 10 AP-CS test-takers and more than 3 with passing 3-5 grades

• In 2013, 71,950 students enrolled in “computing” courses, but 55,786 in K-8 in introductory (literacy), media or robotics

• 2,261 CVTE students, 500 grads, 80% to HE • 4,118 students were enrolled in

“programming” courses, but only 585 of these in AP-CS courses.

• 64,850 2013 high school graduates.

Computing in Post-Secondary Education

• Need to prepare graduates for the skills they will need in an Innovation/Information Economy

• Over eighty 2- and 4-year degree programs– Declining completions?– Increasing enrollment? Strained capacity?– Are opportunities available for all citizens?– Will workforce diversity, particularly in design & development,

reflect the diversity of consumers and applications?

• What about alternative pathways?– MOOCs– Stacked Certificates– Apprenticeships

NSF S&E Indicators

Interest in 4-year computing majors nationally

Interest in computing majors: gender & diversity

Computing program enrollments up?

Computing Research Association Taulbee Surveyof PhD-granting institutions

MIT grew 41%UMass Amherst 99.6%

IT Degrees Awarded by Area (MA, 2012)

Academic

Career

MA CIS Degrees by Gender, Ethnicity

… now a word from my sponsor

• A new National NSF BPC Alliance formed from 2 very successful BPC regional Alliances

• Pathways– Articulation, roadmaps, mentoring, advising

• Networks, collaboration, outreach, advocacy– On-campus and many regional events– TechHub and MassCAN for advocacy

• Professional development– 2013: Artbotics, Scratch, App Inventor, Exploring

Computer Science, LEGO Mindstorms

+=+ Partners/Associates + CSTA + NCWIT + STARS + “Experts”

National Partners Massachusetts Partners

MassCAN

• A partnership of organizations collaborating to inspire and educate Massachusetts students in computing and prepare them to lead and innovate in a future economy that will be dependent on and driven by computer technology

– Make CS count for HS graduation & college entrance (via MassCORE)– Integrate computional thinking into K-8– Create voluntary standards for computing– Promote PD with code.org and others– Define teacher certification requirements– Inform and inspire educators, administrators, parents, and students

StandardsWhat is taught

CurriculumHow computing is taught

Professional DevWho teaches computing

Public AwarenessWhy to study computing

www.masscan.net

Questions

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extras

Changes in IT Occupations

GA K12 CTE Tracks

MA VCTE Data