The Oklahoma State Department of Education released a first draft of academic standards for computer science recently. It now seeks public comment on the potential rules to set standards concerning computer science in the classroom. Once the standards are finalized, Oklahoma will join nine other states with such academic standards and two others with grade-specific goals.
“Coding is not only a universal language of the future, it is an art. Computer science is quickly becoming a field that affects every other discipline, from heath and medicine to agribusiness and finance,” said Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Today’s competitive education must include a foundation in computer science.
Hofmeister believes it is important to set a path of success for computer science education at every level, so students can be ready to take on advanced study or compete in a modern workforce.
“The steps we are taking today to create computer science standards for every grade level position Oklahoma students and educators on the leading edge of an emerging job market that demands familiarity with computer science and rewards expertise in coding, programming and data analysis. By developing high expectations and creating opportunities for teachers to apply computer science concepts across the curriculum, we are ensuring our students will be ready for the most innovative, competitive and fulfilling careers of the future.”
The Department’s assistant executive director of curriculum and instruction Levi Patrick said the computer science standards will guide teachers to better integrate the computer into other subject areas.
“With this year’s kindergartners graduating in 2030, we must begin preparing students for a world of computing that goes beyond word processing and presentation software,” Patrick said. “We must also prepare students to create programs, develop secure networks and gather and analyze data on a large scale.”
According to a nationwide Gallup research study, parents want schools to teach computer programming, but only 40 percent of schools offer classes with coding or programming. In Oklahoma, only three percent of high school students are enrolled in computer science classes.
Oklahomans can provide public comment on the draft rules through Monday, January 8. A final round of revisions will begin at that point before the Oklahoma Board of Education will review and possibly approve them.
To learn more about the effort and to provide input, you can visit http://sde.ok.gov/sde/computer-science-standards
