Computer science Education Week
December 4-8, 2017
CS Ed Week is an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science (CS) and to underscore the critical role of computing in all careers. The week is held in recognition of Grace Hopper’s birthday (12/09/1906), who invented the first compiler and coined the term “bug” (an error in a program) after removing an actual moth from a computer in 1947. As part of CS Ed Week, the first Hour of Code was held in 2013.
Here's How you can participate:
1. Show a video.
2. Choose an activity for students to experience computer science.
3. Encourage students to enter SFUSD’s contest. (It's easier than you may think!)
4. Invite an industry volunteer to help facilitate an activity and/or discuss careers.
5. Share more information about how your students can continue to learn CS.
Our goal is 100% participation! Whether you teach K or 12, PE or physics, or any subject at any level, you can participate -- by celebrating with your students. The #CSinSF team has curated a series of fun and engaging activities that you can do in your classroom. No experience necessary! Many activities don’t require computers.
Learn more by participating in professional development on Thursday, November 30th from 5-7 PM.
Align with Inclusive Schools Week by highlighting inclusivity within computer science, a field that has traditionally excluded many groups of people, including females, African Americans, LatinX, English language learners, and people with disabilities. In San Francisco, we are disrupting these inequitable trends and have committed to making CS accessible and engaging to all students, from all backgrounds. We have designed and curated activities that will support students in learning CS or exploring related careers, particularly for those students who believe CS is not for them.
What is computer science?
Put simply, computer science (CS) is learning how to use the power of computers to solve problems. It’s the study of computers and algorithmic processes, their principles, their designs, their applications, and their impact on society.
Why is computer science important?
CS teaches problem solving and important skills like communication, collaboration, and design. There are tremendous career opportunities, and CS is relevant to all career pathways. In San Francisco, Vision 2025 specifies computer science as a new core competency that is increasingly important in today’s world where computing is ubiquitous.