New York State has released computer science and digital fluency standards that all teachers will eventually be expected to meet within their collective instruction. As you explore the new standards, you’ll notice that some of them don’t require technology at all. Many of the standards can be met with rich discussions.

The ‘impacts of computing’ concept area asks us to examine how technology has changed the world around us and the way we interact with it. The first standard within the ‘impacts of computing’ concept area focuses on how technology fuels change. At the K-1 level, students are asked to identify and discuss how tasks are accomplished with and without technology. For example, how do people communicate with and without technology? Students might compare how a character in a story or a historical figure communicates, like by letter or telegraph, to how they communicate, like by cell phone or email.

In the 2-3 grade band, the standard evolves to an analysis of how technology has changed the way people live and work. This could be a discussion around an article or story, an opportunity to develop research skills, or an interview with an adult from a different generation. Students might even write a letter to a recipient, receive a response, and then reflect on that experience. Why has technology evolved beyond this mode of communication? Does it still have value?

As this standard continues up to the 4-6 grade band, the focus shifts to describing how technology has changed the world, and how cultural practices influence technology. Students at this level might engage in a “what if” thought exercise where they discuss how a story would change if a certain technology were introduced. Students might even speculate on what technologies might be invented in our lifetimes that will change how we function in the world. They might also select a technology of their choice as the focus for a research project, with this standard as the guiding question.

At the 7-8 level, students begin to compare and contrast the tradeoffs that come with new technologies. For example, how has automation impacted us? It makes the production of goods quicker and more efficient, but it costs human employment in the process. Another possible topic is our data and privacy, and how tech companies profit from it.

Finally in the 9-12 grade band, students evaluate technology’s impact on equity, access, and influence. To meet this evolution of the standard, students could examine the recent pandemic and its impact on equitable access to education. This could be taken further to build on what we’ve learned from the past couple years and propose a new system to improve access to quality education through technology.

The theme across grade bands of this first standard within the ‘impacts of computing’ concept area is how technology sparks change. This theme is rich with learning possibilities and sets the stage for powerful discussions in any content, all without having to use technology at all.