K-12 Computer Science Education Across the U.S.

Abstract

Our multi-year national research study examines knowledge and perceptions of computer science (CS), disparities in access, and barriers to offering CS in the United States. The first year of the study surveyed 1,673 students, 1,685 parents, 1,013 teachers, 9,693 principals, and 1,865 superintendents, and the second year surveyed 1,672 students, 1,677 parents, 1,008 teachers, 9,244 principals, and 2,227 superintendents. We found that while large majorities of respondents from all groups continue to hold positive perceptions of computer science work as fun, exciting, and socially impactful, perceptions of who can do CS remained narrow. Despite support from large majorities in all groups for having CS in schools, few teachers or administrators strongly agree that CS is a top priority in their school or district, and principals report mixed support for CS from key stakeholders. Few principals and superintendents describe demand for CS from students and parents as high, while few parents and teachers report having specifically expressed support for CS education to school officials. Our paper also uncovers overall opportunities to learn CS in- and out-of-school. We see an increase in the percent of schools teaching computer programming/coding. Even if opportunities exist, students and parents may not know about them; just over half of students and teachers and 43 % of parents are aware of CS learning opportunities in the community, with slightly higher percentages of students and parents aware of online opportunities. Barriers to offering CS in schools remain largely unchanged from year one of the study, with principals continuing to cite a lack of teachers with the necessary skills and a prioritization of courses related to testing requirements as reasons why CS is not offered in their schools. To overcome such barriers, we discuss a potential opportunity for teachers to incorporate CS into existing school subjects.

Appendix

Sample survey questions. For agreement statements, students and parents were given 1–3 Likert scale and teachers, principals, and superintendents were given a 1–5 Likert scale.

Knowledge of CS.

Based on what you have seen or heard, which of the following activities do you consider part of computer science? (yes, no, don’t know, refused).

• Programming and coding

• Creating new software

• Creating documents or presentations on the computer

• Searching the Internet

After this first question (only for students, parents, teachers, and principals), respondents were provided a definition of CS and reminded multiple times throughout the survey:

Computer science can involve MANY types of activities. Today we are only going to focus on a specific type of computer science.

For the purposes of this survey, computer science is the study of how computers are designed and how to write step-by-step instructions to get them to do what you want them to do. This is sometimes referred to as computer programming or coding. Computer science includes things like creating software, applications, games, websites and electronics and managing large databases of information.

For the purposes of this survey, computer science does NOT include using a computer to do everyday things, such as browsing the Internet. Please keep this definition in mind as you answer the following questions.

Images of CS

• People who do computer science make things that help improve people’s lives.

• People who do computer science have the opportunity to work on fun and exciting projects.

• Computer science can be used in a lot of different types of jobs.

• Most people who work in computer science have good-paying jobs.

• Students who are good at math and science are much more likely to succeed in learning computer science.

• People who do computer science need to be very smart.

Self-image

• How confident are you that you could learn computer science if you wanted to? Very confident, somewhat confident, or not very confident?

• How likely are you to have a job someday where you would need to know some computer science? Is it very likely, somewhat likely, or not at all likely?

• How often do you see people who do computer science in movies or TV shows who are (read and rotate Q04A–Q04F)? Do you see them most of the time, some of the time, not very often, or never?

  • Women

  • White

  • Black or African-American

  • Hispanic/Latino

  • Asian

  • Wearing glasses

• How often do you see or read about people doing computer science in each of the following places? In TV shows (Often, Sometimes, Never)

• How often do you see or read about people doing computer science in each of the following places? In movies (Often, Sometimes, Never)

• How often do you see or read about people doing computer science in each of the following places? Online through social media, articles, or videos (Often, Sometimes, Never)

• Thinking about all of the people you see or read about doing computer science in TV shows, in movies, or online, how often do you see people like you doing computer science? (Asked only of those who see people doing CS “OFTEN” or “SOMETIMES” on TV, movies, and/or online) (Often, Sometimes, Never)

Exposure to Technology

• How often do you use a computer at your school? (Every school day, Most school days, Some school days, Never)

• In a typical week, how often do you/does your child use a computer at HOME? (Every day, Most days, Some days, Not very often, Never)

• In a typical day, how many hours do you/does your child use a computer at HOME? (Asked only of students/parents who use a computer with Internet at home every day) (Less than 2 h, 2–5 h, More than 5 h)

• In a typical week, how often do you/does your child use a cell phone or tablet? (Every day, Most days, Some days, Not very often, Never)

• In a typical day, how many hours do you/does your child use a cell phone or tablet? (Asked only of students/parents who use a cell phone or tablet every day) (Less than 2 h, 2–5 h, More than 5 h)

Learning CS

• Have you ever learned computer science in any of the following ways? (yes, no, don’t know)

  • In a class at school

  • In a group or club at school

  • In a formal group or program outside of school, such as a camp or summer program

  • Online through a class, program, or online community

  • On your own outside of a class or program

Value of CS

• It is a good idea to try to incorporate computer science education into other subjects at school.

• Offering opportunities to learn computer science is a good use of resources at your child’s school.

• Do you think offering opportunities to learn computer science is more important, just as important, or less important to a student’s future success than required courses like math, science, history and English?

• Do you think offering opportunities to learn computer science is more important, just as important, or less important to a student’s future success than other elective courses like art, music, and foreign languages?

• Most students should be required to take a computer science course.

Demand

• Which of the following best describes the demand for computer science education among parents in your school/district? Is demand… (high, moderate, low)

• Which of the following best describes the demand for computer science education among students in your school/district? Is demand… (high, moderate, low)

Priority

• My school board believes computer science education is important to offer in our schools.

• Computer science education is currently a top priority for my school/district.

• The majority of teachers at my school think it is important to offer opportunities to learn computer science.

• The majority of guidance counselors at my school think it is important to offer opportunities to learn computer science.

Barriers

• As far as you know, why doesn’t your school offer any ways to learn computer science? (check all that apply)

  • There are no teachers available at my school with the necessary skills to teach computer science.

  • There are no teachers available to hire with the necessary skills to teach computer science.

  • There is not enough classroom space.

  • There is not enough money to train or hire a teacher.

  • We do not have the necessary computer equipment.

  • We do not have the necessary computer software.

  • We do not have sufficient budget to purchase the necessary computer equipment.

  • We do not have sufficient budget to purchase the necessary computer software.

  • Internet connectivity is poor at my school.

  • There is not enough demand from students.

  • There is not enough demand from parents.

  • There are too many other courses that students have to take in order to prepare for college.

  • We have to devote most of our time to other courses that are related to testing requirements and computer science is not one of them.

  • Don’t know

• Among the reasons just mentioned, what would you say is the MAIN reason your school doesn’t offer ways to learn computer science?