At SXSW Edu, educators and creators come together to discuss how technology, policy and innovation are affecting the future of education. In today’s public education systems there’s a fierce debate going on about teaching computer programming in schools. The fact is that if code is added to the curriculum, or anything else is added for that matter, something will have to go. At the Edu panel “Teaching Code is Not About Creating Programmers,” leaders in computer science education came together to discuss not only the viability of teaching code in the classroom, but some of the cultural and mental benefits to students.
Colleen Lewis, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Harvey Mudd College, thinks that although putting computer science curriculum in K-12 classrooms means other things will have to go, it’s a necessary discussion to have. “It’s an important issue for us to be thinking and talking about as a community.”
Another consideration in the search for a solution is what it means if these programs are extracurricular.
“If you relegate code to after school activities, not all kids are going to have access. The issue of underrepresentation in computing is going to be a widening gap instead of a closing gap if we relegate it to after school activities,” said Lewis.
Grant Hosford, CEO and Co-Founder of codeSpark, emphasized the importance of coming up with creative solutions that fit particular schools.
“There’s not going to be a one size fits all solution. In school I think the trick is going to be to connect it to other disciplines,” said Hosford.
Hosford is passionate about providing access to programming curriculum. CodeSpark, a learning game company that makes coding games for kids, uses no words so that there are no language barriers. Any kid can learn to code, and Hosford thinks it is a grave mistake to not afford them that opportunity.
“I think this is a civil rights issue. If we don’t make room for this now for all students – especially in the poorer schools – then we are guilty of segregation,” said Hosford.
The panel also discussed the importance of teaching kids to code whether they will go into computer science or not. Dan Leyzberg, lecturer in computer science at Princeton University, teaches Intro to CS to students of all majors and backgrounds.
“The problem solving skills you get from learning a little bit about programming is something I think all students should be exposed to,” said Leyzberg.
Although the panel agreed that all kids should learn to code, some were hard pressed to think of the practical applications of coding skills in disciplines outside of computer science. Greater diversity in career backgrounds on the panel may have afforded a broader look at why all kids can benefit from learning to code. Still, the panelists agreed that kids going into STEM will without a doubt benefit from coding skills, and others will find applications in their own fields as the world is increasingly digitized.
“I think we can empower students by helping them understand what’s behind the magic,” said Lewis. “We can keep jobs and intellectual pursuits open to them.”