A Vision For Who Can Succeed in Tech Careers #csedweek
As we approach Computer Science Education Week, it's a natural time to discuss the national imperative to increase the access and quality of computing education in order to fulfill current and future job demand. While efforts to broaden participation in STEM and computing have been in process for decades, our tech workforce continues to suffer from a lack of diversity, and the demand for computing jobs continues to exceed the pipeline.
Most K-12 computing curriculum focuses on coding and computer programming. While many schools have embraced computer science in concept, few incorporate exposure to the myriad technology skills and careers required to meet labor market needs. These existing methods for educating students on computing concepts have failed to motivate underrepresented populations.
Our research presents evidence that the programming and developer jobs for which we are preparing our students with existing computer science education practices are least aligned to student preferences. Only a third of students received a ʻBest Fitʼ for a Software Developer, very few students shared positive sentiments about this career, and males were 2X as likely as females to have received a ʻBest Fitʼ.
It is critical to improve the awareness and perception of a breadth of careers in computing to meet the demands of our workforce and the desires of our students. We need to elevate high demand and high growth computing fields such as User Experience (UX) and Data Science - that when understood, appeal to and attract underrepresented populations.
Females and students of color received unanticipated higher than average ʻBest Fitʼ matches for User Experience (UX) and Data Science career pathways. These opportunities could be a tipping point for redefining who can succeed in tech. The more students know about a diverse set of computing fields, the more likely they are to build a positive perception of computing jobs and find tech careers that meet their desired interests and work characteristics.
Educators, advocates and career influencers can leverage Couragion's research findings to improve their teaching and learning with respect to what inspires individuals to amass skills and select careers. The findings establish that computing careers can be for everyone. Download the full report to learn how you can incorporate these insights into your Computer Science Educator Week activities.