Counselors for Computing

C4C@PSCA
December 1st, 2016

Overview
Computer Science in PA
Why School Counselors?
Equity of Access to Computing Careers
Where to go from Here ...

Computing jobs are the #1 source of new

wages in the United States
500,000 current openings:
Jobs in every industry and
every state, and projected
to grow at twice the rate
of other jobs.
Computing jobs:
50% in tech sector
50% every other sector

What is Computer Science?

CS is posing a problem in such a way that a
computer can help us solve it.
Communicate
Solve problems
Design and imagine
Share, store, retrieve or manipulate information
CS is designing computing devices and
programming them .

Technical Majors and Degrees Conferred in PA

Computer Science + Computer Software Engineering +
Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and
Management +Computer Engineering + General Information
Technology + Computer Engineering Technology/Technician +
Artificial Intelligence + Computer and Information Sciences and
Support Services + Computer and Information Sciences + Computer
and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance + Computer
Graphics +Computer Software and Media Applications +
Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and
Management + Computer and Information Sciences + Information
Science/Studies + Computer and Information Sciences + Computer
Programming/Programmer + Computer and Information Systems
Security/Information Assurance + Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and
Information Resources Design + Computer Engineering + Computer
Software Engineering

3
2

Why Counselors?

Academic Advising
Career Education
Individual Counseling
Family Collaboration
Advocacy

CSedWeek, 2016

Standards Driven
(Math, ELA, Sci & Tech, BCIT, CEWS)
PA CAREER EDUCATION
WORK STANDARDS

13.3.8 C. Explain and demonstrate

conflict resolution skills:
Constructive criticism
Group dynamics
Managing/leadership
Mediation
Negotiation
Problem solving

STANDARDS OF
MATHEMATICAL PRACTICE

Make sense of problems and

persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and
quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and
critique the reasoning of others.
Model with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision.
Look for and make use of
structure.
Look for and express regularity in
repeated reasoning.

US Computing Jobs > Candidates

We can fill 61% of

1.4 million computing jobs

available by 2020
We can fill 32% that require a
Bachelors or advanced degree

Computer Science leads to great jobs.

The value of a computer science education

Source: Brookings

STEM degrees and jobs in the US

Historic Inequity

Stuck in the Shallow End ...

Things that seem to be cultural
preferences and interests are profoundly
impacted by historical legacies,
structural inequalities, denied learning
opportunities, and belief systems that
justify these inequalities.

An ethical imperative ...

School counselors demonstrate their belief
that all students have the ability to learn by
advocating for an education system that
provides optimal learning environments for
all students.

So
Whos in these jobs?

Women & underrepresented minorities in

Scientific Disciplines
The science and
engineering
workforce is largely
white and male.
Minority women
comprise about
1 in 10 employed
scientists and
engineers.

Source: National Science Foundation , 2013

Young Women = Untapped Talent

Young women:
Undergraduate degree recipients
AP test-takers
AP calculus test-takers

57%

54%
46%

ISEF finalists in biochemistry

Computing degree recipients

63%
18%

AP Computer Science A test-takers

Computing-related occupations 22%

19%

PA Statistics
www.code.org/advocay

2016-2017 Gender Demographics

in STEM AP Classes at a Local PA High School

Computer Science for All

Don't just play on your phone program it.

Value of Diversity to Computing

Enhances Innovation
Expands the Qualified Employee Pool
Improves the Bottom Line
Promotes Equality
The people who create our technologies and services
should be like the people who use them.

What Can Counselors Do?

1. Challenge your own perceptions about who is
right for computing
2. Help kids distinguish between computing and
computer literacy, applications courses
3. Advocate for new, inclusive courses
4. Capitalize on factors that influence student
choices which are?

What Can Influencers Do?

Access to quality
experiences
Encouragement
Exposure to role
models
Recognition

7 out of 10 of ALL STEM jobs involve computers.

Only 50% of tech jobs are in the technology field.

NSF, 2007

CS + X
Connect with Girls Career Aspirations
Girls most-reported
college majors, according
to the SAT
1. Health and Allied Services
2. Social Sciences and History
3. Business and Commerce
4. Education
5. Visual or Performing Arts

Designing a Plan

Access
Advocacy
Exposure
Recognition

What does this look like in your community and where

could you advocate for change?
-Advocate for Computer Science Curriculum?
-Examine current demographics in your CS classes?
-Provide career seminars with underrepresented
professionals?
-Adjust your own career advising?

Hour of Code
Computers Science Education Week
December 5- 11th, 2016