Welcome, Parents & Community!

An education in computer science or any other field of computing opens doors to a world of meaningful work, job security and high salaries, with flexibility and variety.

Meaningful Work:
Computing professionals work on creative teams to develop cutting-edge products and solutions that save lives, solve health problems, improve the environment, and keep us connected.

Job Security and High Salaries:
Despite the economic situation today, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that computing-based jobs will be among the fastest-growing and highest-paying over the next decade. It takes far less time to complete the required education for these jobs, which are critical to our nation’s economy and security, than for other respected professions, such as medicine and law. Computing offers rewarding job opportunities with high paying salaries.

Flexibility and Variety:
Many careers in computing offer flexible hours or telecommuting, making it easier to blend a career with life. Furthermore, computer science professionals possess knowledge and skills that are applicable to many different jobs, across many different sectors, ensuring a lifetime of career flexibility.

Get the Facts on CS Education

Use these helpful resources to get all the facts on computer science education.

CSEdWeek Ideas for Parents & Community Members

Your encouragement can go a long way to leading your students and children to a comprehensive education that will prepare them for the future.  In today's world that education must include computer science.  Here are some suggested activities to explore computing at home during CSEdWeek and all year round:

Demonstrate the "magic" of computing!

Computers are everywhere. But how many of us understand how they work, or how they think? Computer science explores these questions. Use CS Unplugged to explain how computers work, and at the same time, address critical mathematics and science concepts from number systems and algorithms to manipulating variables and logic.
Associated Resources
	CS Magic Card Trick This simple card trick demonstrates how a computer detects errors and corrects them.  Amaze your kids when you show them how you 'magically' read their mind, then reveal the secret.
	Computer Science Unplugged - Unplug Your Classroom The CS Unplugged program-in-a-Box is a free, downloadable guide to using the CS Unplugged activities.
	More CS Unplugged resources Check out the CS Unplugged website for more activities and resources, as well as multiple language versions.

Advocate for Computer Science Classes in Your Student's School

Advocate to your school's principal or school board for rigorous, engaging computer science classes for your student(s).
Associated Resources
	Moving Beyond Computer Literacy: Why schools should teach computer science Use this handy resource to inform policy makers at your school about the importance of quality computer science education.
	Sample Advocacy Letter  Use this sample letter to advocate for rigorous computer science education with your local school board or state department of education.

Computing is Everywhere

Talk to your children about how you got things done "in your day" without computers (directions, photos, music, homework, research/write papers, etc), as a way of demonstrating how far we have come and how computers make life easier.  Try spending a day without technology or even a few hours to demonstrate.

Sign the pledge

Parent & Community Resources

Please note that the highlighted resources change everytime the page is refreshed. 

Why Should Young People Consider Careers in Information Technology

Created as talking points for Counselors for Computing (C4C), a project of the NCWIT K-12 Alliance made possible by the Merck Company Foundation, this card gives adults talking points and additional resources for a conversation with their students, children, and/or other young people. The main message is that IT offers meaningful work, security and high salaries with a bachelor’s degree, and flexibility and variety. Information is provided to address these specific questions: What should you tell a young person about a career in IT? How can a young person prepare now for a career in IT?

 

CSEdWeek Daily Videos

As part of its commitment to support CSEdWeek (Dec. 5-11, 2010) activities, the Computer Science Teachers Association has created a series of videos that schools and teachers can use for morning announcements or in the classroom. These video files are intended to inform and engage students and to help them understand the many opportunities computer science provides.

 

CS in Sports Poster

This engaging new classroom poster invites students to make connections between computer science and their favorite sports and games.

 

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