code Archives

The State of Computer Science report reveals progress and challenges in U.S. education

The 7th annual report on K-12 computer science in the United States dropped today. It provides an update on national and state-level computer science education policy, including policy trends, maps, state summaries, and implementation data. I had the chance to speak with Sean Roberts, VP of US Strategy from Code.org and get a pre-brief before today’s release. Sean underscores the report’s findings including the significant growth in the number of schools offering computer science courses, emphasizes the importance of foundational computer science education, and outlines the challenges, including the persistent gender gap in the field. Dig in to the whole report here. Scroll down for some takeaways and data highlights.

Key Takeaways:

Remarkable Growth: The report reveals a substantial increase in the number of schools offering computer science courses across the country since 2018, demonstrating a growing recognition of the subject’s importance.
Importance of Foundational Education: Foundational computer science education encompasses a focus on programming, algorithms, and broader concepts related to computing. It aims to empower students to be not just consumers but creators of technology, with a deep understanding of its impact on society.
Gender Gap Challenge: The report addresses the persistent gender gap in computer science participation, with young women representing only around 30% of students in computer science courses. However, states that have made computer science a graduation requirement have seen significant increases in female participation, highlighting the potential for bridging this gap.
Professional Development for Teachers: To meet the increasing demand for computer science education, many teachers who did not initially specialize in the field are being upskilled. The report emphasizes the importance of supporting existing teachers to provide high-quality computer science education and creating a pipeline of future computer science educators.
Graduation Requirements: Making computer science a graduation requirement is a complex process that varies by state and district. The report recommends flexible approaches and multi-year implementation pathways to ensure a smooth transition and alignment with existing graduation requirements.
Future Prospects: The report predicts that, in the next three to four years, more states will make computer science a graduation requirement, leading to increased access for students and the closing of gender gaps in the field. It envisions a future where every K-12 student in the US has exposure to computer science, preparing them for the age of AI and beyond.

Highlights related to access and participation: …Read More

Big Deals—AI GUIDANCE for Schools Toolkit, Assessment PD for Teachers, and EV Buses Hit the Road.

This month, TeachAI, an initiative led by Code.org, ETS, the International Society of Technology in Education, Khan Academy, and the World Economic Forum, launched an AI Guidance for Schools toolkit to help education systems globally address gaps in AI guidance and policy. This resource was co-authored by Code.org, CoSN, Digital Promise, European EdTech Alliance, and PACE with input and review from policymakers, school leaders, teachers and leading tech organizations.

A recent global survey by UNESCO found that only seven percent of schools worldwide provided guidance on the proper use of AI in classrooms. The toolkit provides a framework for incorporating AI in education, real-world policy examples, sample guidance language, and resources aimed at staff, parents, and students.

“We offer the AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit in a spirit of humility and with the desire to help education leaders meet the urgent call for practical guidance on the safe, effective, and responsible use of AI,” said Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer at Code.org and lead of the TeachAI initiative. “By providing real-world examples and sample language, we hope education systems now have a place to start their discussions.” …Read More

Introducing Tynker Copilot – The First-Ever LLM-Powered Coding Companion for Young Coders

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California — Tynker, the leading game-based coding platform that has engaged over 100 million kids, proudly introduces “Tynker Copilot.” Leveraging the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs), Tynker Copilot empowers young innovators aged 6-12. It provides a seamless interface for these budding developers to transform their ideas into visual block code for apps and games. Additionally, when exploring existing projects, kids benefit from the tool’s ability to explain block code fragments, ensuring a deeper understanding. Tynker Copilot allows children to build confidence as they work with AI, laying a solid foundation for their future. With this launch, coding education takes a significant leap forward.

Large Language Models (LLMs) have excelled in text-based programming languages like Python and JavaScript. However, their application to visual block coding, the primary introduction to programming for many kids, had yet to be explored. Tynker is the first to bridge this gap. Our latest integration lets children quickly convert their ideas into block code, streamlining their initial coding experience.

Tynker introduction of the Copilot feature marks a significant industry milestone. Until now, the capabilities of LLMs have not been fully utilized for the younger age group. Tynker Copilot empowers children as young as 6 to input text commands like “Design a space-themed knock-knock joke” or “Teach me how to build a Fruit-ninja style game” and receive block code outputs with step-by-step instructions. Moreover, when debugging existing projects, students can submit block-code snippets and benefit from LLM-generated natural language explanations.…Read More

5 ways AI can help teachers in the classroom

Key points:

As AI tools like ChatGPT grow in popularity, there’s no avoiding them in the classroom

Using AI to teach students about AI helps students approach it with the respect it deserves and emphasizes its use as a learning tool

See related article: Debunking common myths about AI in education

If you’ve spent any time tinkering with AI like I have, you’ve discovered what a powerful and versatile tool it can be for teachers in the classroom. Sometimes, it almost feels like AI gives us superpowers. Simply by using a collection of prompts, I can direct AI to write, draw, code, and perform any number of difficult tasks in ways I otherwise couldn’t. The only limit is your imagination!

This brings up some pressing questions, though, and as with any new technology, it will take time before we reach definitive answers. In the meantime, however, finding positive ways of integrating AI into education can give us a better understanding of its full potential, and maybe point us in the right direction for its future use. Here are just 5 ways AI can help teachers in classroom:…Read More

Edtech leaders offer guidance on safe AI classroom integration

Key points:

A number of leading education and technology leaders are formulating recommendations around teaching with AI

These efforts can help prepare students to work with and within the world of AI and its rapid evolution

See related article: The importance of teaching generative AI

Code.org, ETS, ISTE, Khan Academy, and World Economic Forum have formed TeachAI, bringing together education, nonprofit, and technology partners to assist governments and education authorities with integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into primary and secondary curricula worldwide while protecting student safety, respecting privacy rights, and addressing issues of bias and misinformation.

AI’s rapid pace of development in recent months offers exciting applications for the classroom, but the unprecedented technology also demands deliberation as the implications are vast. TeachAI will bring critical voices across education, policy, and technology to develop a practical framework for teaching with AI and teaching about AI. …Read More

3 ways teachers can navigate the evolving field of computer science

As recently as a decade or two ago, technology education consisted of typing, learning to draft emails, or doing a little work in a spreadsheet. Learning those skills may have been relegated to a business information class or weekly trips to a computer lab. Today, most students are expected to learn to code, and most states have coding requirements—some starting as early as kindergarten.

That’s a significant change in less than a generation. Computer science is a rapidly advancing field; educators have to make those changes if they are going to prepare their students for the modern world. Trying to teach a subject that’s ever-changing might feel a little intimidating to some teachers, especially if they don’t have a background in the field. Fortunately, the skills students learn in computer science are evergreen, and many of the changes within the field are manageable for the educators involved.

Here are three keys to preparing to teach this dynamic subject without feeling like the ground is constantly shifting under your feet.…Read More

5 things to know about ChatGPT in education

ChatGPT has commanded the world’s attention in recent weeks, and it has educators and policymakers discussing its implications for education, academic honesty, accessibility, and more.

OpenAI’s chatbot can compose poems, can write an essay about global warming as a Taylor Swift song, and can call up HTML code instantly–the possibilities are nearly endless.

ChatGPT is not the only AI-powered chatbot available to students and educators (0ther options include Google’s Bard and the latest version of Microsoft’s Bing), but it certainly seems to be the most discussed.…Read More

Simplified K-12 cybersecurity streamlines student data access

Remember when moving from one end of a state to another often meant changing phone numbers because the new residence would be in a different area code? And, after cell phones were born, remember when relocating across the country meant ditching a cell phone company, along with the number, because the new area of the country didn’t include the same coverage?

Chances are, if you are as old as I am, these scenarios do sound familiar. For most cell phone users, however, changing cell numbers just because you relocate is a foreign concept. A cell phone number becomes part of who we are, part of our contact identity, and, if we don’t want to, we never have to change cell numbers again.

Now, let’s apply this scenario to today’s school environment and student data. Huh? I know you’re thinking this analogy might be a stretch, but stay with me, and I promise this will all make sense.…Read More

How robotic gamification helped my elementary students love STEM

Coding is a necessary skill in today’s world, but it is relatively challenging to master, especially for kids. Its complexity is not necessarily because it is incomprehensible, but because it is a new concept for most students. This is especially the case for students in inner-city schools where technology is inevitably scarce due to systemic factors beyond the students’ control.

With numerous programming languages available, it can take time to pick a starting point. Educators have found a solution to this problem: gamification. Platforms like CoderZ offer virtual programming services where children can learn code through games. These games make learning code both fun and engaging for kids.

Through the CoderZ Robotics curriculum, kids learn to create, manage, and communicate with cyber robots in a virtual setting by inputting code. Block code is used because it is easier for children to understand and execute instead of complex text-based code. Learning is more accessible because virtual robots do not require hardware, space, or other associated costs.…Read More

CoderZ Launches New Code Farm Coding and Robotics Course for Grades Four Through Six

DERRY, N.H. – When young students learn coding, they hone skills – such as computational thinking and collaboration – that enhance their success in school and future careers. CoderZ, an award-winning, cloud-based robotics and STEM platform, is helping educators introduce computer science in elementary and early middle school with its new Code Farm coding and robotics course for grades four through six.

Created for teachers and students with no prior experience in coding or robotics, Code Farm provides 45-60 hours of self-paced, gamified activities with real-time feedback and step-by-step instructions. The course offers a broad view of computer science education through a variety of lenses: engineering design, algorithms and coding, ethics and the social impact of technology, and more. The course is aligned with relevant standards frameworks, such as CSTA and NGSS, and includes extension opportunities for middle school classrooms.

Learners use the programming language Blockly to steer virtual robots through tasks such as collecting fruit, avoiding obstacles, and even planting a garden of their own design.…Read More