Computational Thinking in K–12: A report in Ed Researcher

Shuchi Grover and Roy Pea (Stanford) have a review of the field of computational thinking in K-12 schools in this month’s Educational Researcher.  It’s a very nice paper.  I’m excited that the paper is published where it is!  Educational Researcher is the main publication venue for the largest education research organization in the United States (American Educational Research Association).  Roy has been doing work in computing education for a very long time (e.g., “On the prerequisites of learning computer programming,” 1983, Pea and Kurland).  This is computational thinking hitting the education mainstream.

Jeannette Wing’s influential article on computational thinking 6 years ago argued for adding this new competency to every child’s analytical ability as a vital ingredient of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning. What is computational thinking? Why did this article resonate with so many and serve as a rallying cry for educators, education researchers, and policy makers? How have they interpreted Wing’s definition, and what advances have been made since Wing’s article was published? This article frames the current state of discourse on computational thinking in K–12 education by examining mostly recently published academic literature that uses Wing’s article as a springboard, identifies gaps in research, and articulates priorities for future inquiries.

via Computational Thinking in K–12.

IT skills shortage hampers UK response to cybersecurity needs

From the US yesterday to the UK today, there’s a similar theme connecting computing education and cybersecurity. Maybe the next round of government investment in computing education is going to happen with a goal of providing more warriors (and defenders) in the cybersecurity wars.  The UK is worried (below) that the lack of computing education in schools means that not enough kids are getting interested in computing to work in cybersecurity.

A new report by the National Audit Office claims the IT security skills gap will take up to 20 years to close, and leave UK PLC at risk of attack.

The IT security skills shortage could hamper the UK’s ability to protect itself from cyber threats, as the “decade-long decline” in computer science teaching in schools and universities takes its toll.

via IT skills shortage hampers UK response to cyber threats | IT PRO.