The Importance of K-12 Computer Science Curriculum

Technology is advancing every day and students have the opportunity to get ahead with technology by immersing themselves in K-12 computer science curriculum. We recently sat down with Education Coach and Adjunct Professor, Jorge Valenzuela, to find out why K-12 computer science curriculum is so important and how to incorporate computer science into the curriculum for any class. 

The Importance of K-12 Computer Science Curriculum 

In recent years the rise in technology has increased the need and interest in the computer science fields. So much so that in 2016 former President Barack Obama enacted the Computer Science for All Initiative. This impacted every state requiring schools to create and implement a computer science curriculum. 

Jorge believes that the importance of a computer science curriculum is that students are able to get ahead, get exposed, and enable them to learn these skills that will benefit them in their future. The goal of computer science is to inspire, motivate, and provide opportunities for kids to want to go deeper into learning. Jorge stated that if students are inspired by the subject then they will have the motivation and passion to do more with those acquired skills.

 K-12 Computer Science Curriculum Implementation

K-12 computer science curriculum can be incorporated into a school in many different ways. For a lot of elementary schools, computer science classes fall under the elective category. This way students see computer science as a way of having a break from learning and a fun activity to do; little do they know they are improving their computer skills at the same time. Some schools adopt computer science as a class, group of courses, or even as a pathway for students. Jorge recently wrote an article for Edutopia highlighting 3 ways that you can infuse computer science into your curriculum. Here are 3 tips for computer science implementation:

1. Students need to understand how the internet works
2. Understand how apps are developed
3. Understand how algorithms are developed and how they are used

Jorge encourages having sufficient knowledge of computer science before implementing it into any classroom. Focus on the basics and set a strong foundation of knowledge for your students to make them aware of the opportunities computer science can create.

How Dyknow Supports Computer Science Curriculum

With a computer science curriculum, students spend significantly more time on their devices than normally would in another subject because computer science is technology-driven. This can lead to students getting distracted much easier with all of the other sites and information they can access on the internet. Dyknow supports a computer science curriculum with device monitoring and site blocking for all student devices. Keep your students on track and learning focused using Dyknow.

K-12 computer science curriculum can set students apart from those who don’t have the same knowledge. As technology continues to advance, those who begin learning about technology early have an easier time adapting and building off of the acquired skills. As stated before, K-12 computer science is all about inspiring students and showing them that learning can be informative, fun, and interesting all at the same time. Help set your students up for great success with a computer science curriculum.

Listen to the full conversation with Jorge Valenzuela on our Tackling Tech Podcast!

On this episode of Tackling Tech Podcast, powered by Dyknow, Brett McGrath speaks with Jorge Valenzuela, educational coach, curriculum specialist, and author of Rev Up Robotics. Jorge teaches workshops on Project-Based Learning, Computer Science, and STEM. He is hosting the Friday session of the Progressive Learning Conference, Sept-21-25.