When one thinks about computer science,
images of a lone programmer might spring to mind, but computer science
(CS) is about more than just coding. Computer science also includes
problem solving, creativity, and abstraction. Whether designing
artificial limbs, analyzing medical data to develop more effective
treatments, or understanding the potential impact of impeding severe
weather, computational competencies are empowering. Today, most U.S.
schools do not offer academic CS courses. Schools offer courses on how
to use technology, but not courses that cover the fundamental concepts
and skills of computing. In fact, only 19 percent of U.S. high-school
students take a computer science class, a percentage that has fallen
over the last two decades. Moreover, women, African-Americans, Latinos,
Native Americans, and individuals with disabilities take CS courses in
astonishingly low numbers. These individuals constitute 70 percent of
the nation's population and their underrepresentation in CS represents a
loss of talent and creativity for our nation. Central to NSF's efforts
is the CS 10K Project which focuses on making computer science
accessible in high schools. CS 10K is a nationwide effort to get
engaging, rigorous academic computer science courses into 10,000 schools
taught by 10,000 well-prepared teachers. The project pays careful
attention to the inclusion of women and minorities--groups that have
been traditionally underrepresented in computing.
Credit: Georgia Computes! Georgia Tech
