Communications of the ACM
It Works to Dispel Nerdy Image to Students
Bishop Reding Secondary School computer science teacher Bruce Mazer (right) is trying to get students excited about technology. Here (from left) Sarah Bonin, 16, Khaled Hashem, 18, and Thomas Thibault, 17, watch a robot they have programmed find its way t
Credit: Keith Beaty / Toronto Star
In Canada, the ICT sector is trying to shed its 'nerdy' image in hope of luring the tech-savvy millennial generation back to computer science careers. In response to declining enrollment in computer-related programs, the Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow's ICT Skills conducted a survey of Grade 9 and 10 students in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax to find out their opinions on the ICT field. The results, released in early June, showed the extent to which ICT must reinvent itself. While roughly three-quarters of students believe the tech industry offers good salaries and job stability, only 39 percent found ICT careers appealing, and even fewer found them interesting.
The problem, the Canadian researchers found, was that most teenagers really don't know what it means to be involved with the computer science field. As a result, young people are stuck with an outdated vision of the field that is not very alluring. Educators say the key to getting students excited about technology is to bring into the classroom the technologies that students use every day, such as cell phones. In some classes, for example, students learn to create games on their phones.
The programs, launched after a dramatic drop in demand for computer science classes, have created a buzz among students, with many graduates going on to computer-related studies and settling on careers in technology. In time, other school systems may adopt similar types of programs as they develop new best practices.
From Toronto Star
View Full Article
No entries found