21st Century Skills & Knowledge Part 1: Technology & Computer Science

It is difficult to overstate how our lives have been transformed by technology in the last ten years. In the years since today’s fifth graders were born, books have leapt from the page to the screen, music from CDs to iPods, the term “social network” has taken on an entirely new meaning, and pioneers in technological fields have become cultural icons. Yet, despite the ubiquity of technology, in some significant ways, our curriculum has not adapted to the world we live in now, let alone the world of the near future.

Computer science is one of the most versatile of all scientific disciplines. More than programming itself, Computer Science is a kind of logic, critical thinking, and problem solving applied to real life. Nor is knowledge of computer science only necessary for someone who wants to work in Silicon Valley; it is necessary or extremely beneficial for people to have who want to work in any kind of quantitative research such as engineering, medicine, finance, graphic design, manufacturing, as well as other sciences.

Aside from our highly successful and popular robotics team, the technology offerings in South Orange-Maplewood's schools are not particularly strong.  We have excellent courses in the traditional sciences of biology, chemistry, physics and math, but there are no strong computer science courses to go along with them. There are some classes in the arts that utilize computers, we have a terrific robotics team, and up to twenty 11th and 12th graders can take an online half-year class in various computer disciplines (from Microsoft Word, Computer Fundamentals, to programming like JavaScript), but our offerings are relatively limited.  If we want our schools to be able to serve as launching pads into this dynamic and potentially lucrative field, curricular changes are called for.

It’s worth making comparisons to other districts at this point. Verona and Glen Ridge are small high schools, and yet they offer AP Computer Science. Livingston High School has classes on Digital Imaging, Programming for Problem Solving, an existing robotics course, CAD classes and AP Computer Science.  Millburn Middle School has Digital Photography and Technology electives and Millburn High School has two yearlong electives, Computer Science 1, Computer Science 2 and then AP Computer Science. West Orange has electives in Java, C++, Visual Basic, Desktop Publishing, and then AP Computer Science. West Orange also classes on Cisco networking that can lead to earning CompTia certification and credit from technical colleges. 

Although people can and do acquire technology skills in college, mastering technology is like learning a language or a musical instrument, it’s easier to acquire these skills when young.

Some young people acquire impressive technology skills independently or through the Khan Academy, but schools cannot assume students will be able acquire these critical skills on their own or that all students will have the equipment and mentoring necessary to master these topics even if they wish to learn them.

Where should we go?

Good news is that some progress in technology education has occurred recently as the middle schools.  The middle schools have new marking period-long technology courses where students learn the basics of website design, Google SketchUp, and even some video editing.  These creative technology courses are good as ways for students to learn to use technology. 

After students have a good foundation in learning to use technology they should have the opportunity to learn to develop it.  In high school we should look towards helping students learn to be creators in this field. In the high school serious computer science courses should be offered, sometimes as alternatives to classes in the traditional sciences of biology, physics, and chemistry. We should seriously look into the robotics class (on RobotC) that is already under discussion. The programming skills that students gain in that class would be excellent preparation for AP Computer Science.

It’s also worth considering how computer science is taught. Computer science lends itself to project-based learning better than most other subjects do. Students can learn computer science by doing computer science.

Beyond teaching computer science in the schools, we should seek to go beyond that to reaching out to local businesses for externships for our students, for the sake of their getting real-world experience in addition to education. It also isn’t enough simply to offer the opportunities to take these classes.

We should be cognizant of the fact that students studying computer science are more likely to be male and white or Asian. Attempting to broaden participation in this field through special outreach to underrepresented groups is justified. A club like the “” club Livingston has is worth considering, so would be some of the programs offered by the National Society of Black Engineers.

As the world is changing, so should the curriculum of our schools in South Orange-Maplewood. Technology is a basic 21st Century Skill and one of the most valuable topics to have understanding of. As in many other areas, success begins with a foundation laid early in education. Let us develop programs to educate and inspire students in this incredibly dynamic component of our world.

- By Jeff Bennett -

Jeffrey is running for the Board of Education with Wayne Eastman and Madhu Pai.  Please visit their website to learn more.