Double Entry #9

 High Tech Programmers in Low-Income Communities: Creating a Computer Culture in a Community Technology Center

Why should programming be part of school curriculum?

"Computer programming is integral knowledge across disciplines from the sciences to the arts, yet minorities and low-income students are notably absent in computer science-related fields" (Kafai, Peppler, & Chiu, p. 2). Computer programming and access should be placed in the high school settings because of the alarming numbers of students that do not have access to a computer outside of the school environment. Now I am aware that there are many community centers that offer this option, but what if they student cannot get transportation to that community center, then they lose out on the chance to access computers entirely. The youth of today have an interest in "videogames, music videos, cartoon animations, and interactive, design-based art, which are natural springboard into creating and programming"  (Kafai, Peppler, & Chiu, p. 2). This also makes our students more media literate by exposing them to a variety of different types of media texts such as  the combination of video, text, and images. “We argue that youth require technological fluency of how to construct new media in order to become critical consumers and producers” (Kafai, Peppler, & Chiu, p. 4).

What are the barriers to implementing programming in schools? 

Some of the barriers of implementing programming in schools is first the amount of computer access in schools. I am aware that many schools are attempting to become 1:1 ratio schools but many are not close to reaching that goal yet. I know that my school would probably average at about a 1:15 ratio. Until we can offer all student the access to computers we can not provide the programming opportunity equally to all students as of yet. Along with that is that we must insure that we have the necessary programming to offer the students, and with the increases in technology and programs it makes it very difficult to stay up to date on all devices and programs in the school system with limited amounts of funding and recent budget cuts.

How can barriers to implementing programming in schools be overcome?

There is a variety of way to attempt to influence the educational system to incorporate computer programming into the curriculum. The most important part is having studies and statistical data to back up your ideas and theories. This article has provided us with a great deal of information to use to influence other educators and educational systems to incorporate computer programming. Some of the ways also mentioned in the reading include: presenting workshops at training events for coordinators across the network; presenting workshops and showcase events for members across the network; establish a presence within the network” (Kafai, Peppler, & Chiu, p. 18). This would help to get the word out and develop a new understanding as to how computer programming could contribute to the educational curriculum.

Works Cited: 

Kafai, Y. B., Peppler, K. A., & Chiu, G. M. (n.d.). High Tech Programmers in Low-Income Communities: Creating a Computer Culture in a Community Technology Center. Los Angeles: University of Califonia.

Resource:
I found this article to be very interesting. It talks about how students as young as 8 are proficient at using the computer. This backs up the claim that many of our students are all ready using devices outside of the classroom and as the educational system is suppose to prepare students for the future we need to be using these devices to teach. 

Click her to go to the article.