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TECH CORPS Celebrates Third Annual Computer Science Education Week
Columbus, OH. – TECH CORPS took center stage as part of the Third Annual Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek). Annually CSEdWeek focuses on the need to build strong computer science education programs in schools, giving students the opportunity to explore this growing field and supporting the country's need for a workforce skilled in computing.
Throughout the week, nearly 200 central Ohio elementary school students participated in hands-on computing activities as part of the TECHie Club program. TECHie Club was developed by TECH CORPS with support from the American Electric Power Foundation. The program is designed to engage 3rd – 5th grade students in interactive computing activities focused on the fundamentals of computer programming, robotics, and web development. Throughout the school year, teams of tech-savvy volunteers use TECHie Club lessons to introduce students to the knowledge, concepts, and skills that are necessary for success in today’s classroom and tomorrow’s workplace.
“Through programs like TECHie Club, we seek to put students in the role of creating and designing with technology—not just using and consuming it,” said Lisa M. Chambers, National Director of TECH CORPS. “Our goal is to inspire and support a new generation of technology innovators.”
While current labor projections show the creation of 800,000 new computing jobs by 2018, the nation's education system is falling behind in preparing students for these future careers.
A main focus of this year's CSEdWeek was to demonstrate how local, grassroots efforts, such as local TECH CORPS chapters, can raise the status and quality of computer science education. Local programs from Massachusetts to Calgary, Canada to Columbus were part of the celebration this year.
TECH CORPS, a national CSEdWeek partner, commemorated CSEdWeek at Georgian Heights Elementary School, one of the Columbus elementary schools currently implementing the TECHie Club program. State Representative Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-26), joined the students and TECH CORPS volunteers.
“Expanding and reaffirming the importance of STEM education in our American schools is vital to cultivating the next leaders of America who will continue America’s legacy and role as an engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation,” said Heard.
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TECH CORPS was founded in 1995 by Gary Beach, Publisher Emeritus of CIO Magazine. Beach envisioned an organization which would challenge American volunteers to help K-12 schools build a technology infrastructure -- much like the Peace Corps challenges men and women to help developing countries build their infrastructures. Building from a state pilot in Massachusetts, TECH CORPS developed engaging technology programs and deployed tech-savvy volunteers to assist K-12 schools and youth-serving organizations across the country. Since its inception, over 10,000 TECH CORPS volunteers have shared their time and talents with K-12 students and schools delivering in-person technology support and programming. For more information about TECH CORPS visit www.techcorps.orgCSEdWeek is a collaborative activity of CinC, a non-partisan advocacy coalition of associations, corporations, scientific societies, and other non-profits that strive to elevate computer science education to a core academic subject in K-12 education. For more details on CSEdWeek visit: www.csedweek.org
PHOTO CAPTION:
(From Left) TECH CORPS volunteer, Alex Yazdani of American Electric Power, State Rep. Tracy Maxwell Heard, Lisa M. Chambers, TECH CORPS National Director and TECHie Club students at Georgian Heights Elementary School.
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Tech Corps was founded in 1995 by Gary Beach , Publisher Emeritus of CIO Magazine. Gary envisioned an organization which would challenge American volunteers to help K-12 schools build a technology infrastructure -- much like the Peace Corps challenges men and women to help developing countries build their infrastructures. Building from a state pilot in Massachusetts, Tech Corps developed and deployed technology programs and tech-savvy volunteers to assist K-12 schools and youth-serving organizations across the country. Since 1995, more than 10,000 Tech Corps volunteers have 