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Computer Science Is Fundamental

The article explains the importance of computer science education in developing critical thinking and computational skills necessary for the 21st century. It highlights various applications of computer science across different sectors, emphasizing its relevance beyond traditional IT roles. The article also notes that a solid understanding of computer science principles is essential for a wide range of careers, even those not directly related to computing.

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justinanago6
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17 views2 pages

Computer Science Is Fundamental

The article explains the importance of computer science education in developing critical thinking and computational skills necessary for the 21st century. It highlights various applications of computer science across different sectors, emphasizing its relevance beyond traditional IT roles. The article also notes that a solid understanding of computer science principles is essential for a wide range of careers, even those not directly related to computing.

Uploaded by

justinanago6
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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READING TASK

1- Read the following article and say in you own words what it is about.
2- Identify difficult word and look up their meaning in a dictionary.
3- What is the message conveyed in the first paragraph?
4- How do you relate the message in the first paragraph to that of the three last
paragraphs?
5- Discuss the author’s point of view in this article.

What is Computer Science and What do People Do Once They Know It?
What Is Computer Science?
Computer science develops students’ computational and critical thinking skills and
shows them how to create, not simply use, new technologies. This fundamental
knowledge is needed to prepare students for the 21st century, regardless of their ultimate
field of study or occupation.
Additional Background: Computer science education encompasses “the study of
computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, their hardware and
software designs, their applications, and their impact on society.” A few of the topics
and activities that might be included in a computer science course include:
Algorithmic problem-solving
Computing and data analysis (managing, processing, visualizing and interpreting data)
Human-computer interaction
Modeling and simulating real-world problems
Creating and manipulating graphics
Programming (including game design)
Security (including cryptography)
Web design (illustrating principles of programming, human-computer interaction and
abstraction)
Robotics (designing and programming)
Ethical and social issues in computing

Foundational computer science courses in K–121 teach the fundamental concepts of


computing, much like a physics course teaches fundamental concepts around the laws
of motion and energy. The new AP computer science course2 under development focuses
around seven big ideas at the core of computer science—creativity, abstraction, data,
algorithms, programming, Internet and impact—that are fundamental to computer
science, but applicable to analysis in many disciplines.

How is Computer Science Used in Various Careers?

1
K-12 education refers to the educational system that includes kindergarten through 12th grade, focusing on
children and adolescents’ learning and development before entering college or university.
2
Advanced Placement computer science is a course and examination offered by College Board to high school
students as an opportunity to earn college credit for a college level computer science course.

1
Computer science develops students’ computational and critical thinking skills and
shows them how to create, not simply use, new technologies. This fundamental
knowledge is needed to prepare students for the 21st century, regardless of their ultimate
field of study or occupation.

Additional Background: In the 21st century, information technology is permeating many


aspects of daily life and big data, software, and the Internet are being integrated into
businesses and products throughout society. The knowledge and skills learned from
studying computer science prepare students for careers in a variety of sectors. Examples
include:
In information technology—designing security software and hardware systems or
developing mobile communication devices, networks and applications.
In manufacturing—designing and using simulations to improve products. What is
Computer Science and What do People Do Once They Know It?
In healthcare—exploring the vast quantities of data produced by new DNA3
sequencing techniques, developing new remote monitoring systems for patients, or
designing security and privacy for medical records.
In retail—analyzing data to predict trends and improve inventory management.
In weather forecasting—developing and interpreting models that predict the behavior
of hurricanes.
In the arts—designing new special effects for movies or composing digital music.
In financial services—designing and overseeing automated trading services.
The breadth of ways in which computing knowledge prepares people for multiple
careers is borne out by looking at the people working in computing occupations by
sector. In fact, over 70 percent of computing occupations are outside of the information
technology industry: 9 percent are in information services, 12 percent are in financial
services, 36 percent are in professional and business services, 7 percent are in
government and public education services, and 12 percent are in manufacturing. The
College Board states studying AP Computer Science can open the pathway to 130 career
areas and 48 college majors.

Conversely, even those whose majors were not in computing often move later into
occupations focused in these areas; of the 2.2 million workers in computer and math
occupations in 2009, 35 percent had computing or math-related degrees, 27 percent had
degrees in other STEM4 fields, and 39 percent had non-STEM degrees.
Finally, an understanding of the core principles of computer science is key even for jobs
not directly focused on computing skills--a June 2011 McKinsey Global Institute report
predicts a shortfall of 1.5 million “data-savvy” manager and analysts by 2018.
For more information on computing careers see: http://computingcareers.acm.org

3
Deoxyribonucleic acid is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of
an organism.
4
Abbreviation for four closely connected areas of study : Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

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