BSCS Science Learning’s Post

Join us this Thursday, March 12 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET 📅 for the release of the data and computing in K-12 report! Skills in computing and data are critical for students to thrive in a data-driven world. Efforts to expand data and computing education in K–12 settings have grown rapidly but unevenly. A new report from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identifies seven foundational competencies in data and computing and outlines strategies for integrating them into mathematics and science instruction. https://lnkd.in/eRQjx86H #STEMeducation #K12education #DataScience

Skills in computing and data are critical for students to thrive in a data-driven world. Efforts to expand data and computing education in K–12 settings have grown rapidly but unevenly. A new report from the National Academies identifies seven foundational competencies and offers guidance for integrating them into K–12 education in ways that strengthen core mathematics and science learning. To learn more about the report’s findings and recommendations, visit: https://ow.ly/LC8i50Yt7Mq #STEMeducation #K12education #DataScience

Another compelling Consensus Study Report now available from the National Academies. This report identifies seven foundational competencies for data and computing in K-12. #scstem https://lnkd.in/ejtJVeaM

We are thrilled to announce that the Northern Lights Collaborative for Computing Education (NLC) team and our close collaborators will be presenting at SITE 2026 (Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education) from March 23-27 in Philadelphia! Our team has been hard at work researching how to make computer science and AI education more equitable, accessible, and sustainable for K-12 educators and students. If you’re attending, we’d love to connect at one of our four featured sessions: 📊 Full Paper: A Landscape Analysis of K-8 Integrated Computer Science Lessons: Instructional Quality, Inclusion, and Accessibility Across Curricula 🏫 Symposium: Computer Science Teacher Education Pathways: Strategies, Approaches, and Lessons Learned and Brief Paper: Institutional Enactment of CS Teacher Preparation Policy: A Comparative Case Study 🤖 Brief Paper: Designing a Foundational AI Workshop for K-12 Educators: Early Insights from a TPACK Aligned and Human-Centered Professional Learning Model Heading to Philadelphia? Let us know in the comments! We look forward to seeing our fellow researchers and educators there. #SITE2026 #CSEd #ComputerScience #TeacherEducation #K12Education #NorthernLightsCollaborative

I’ve been reading a new report from the National Academies on computing learning and participation in K-12, and it reinforces something many of us in education and technology already feel: computing is quickly becoming a foundational literacy. A few insights that stood out to me: • Computing is everywhere. It’s no longer just about preparing software engineers. Computational thinking now shapes fields from science and healthcare to media, business, and public policy. • Access remains uneven. Many students still don’t have consistent opportunities to learn computer science in school, particularly in underserved communities. Expanding access is both an education and economic priority. • Authentic learning matters. Students engage more deeply when computing is connected to real-world problems, creativity, and interdisciplinary projects. • Teachers are the biggest multiplier. The report highlights that teacher preparation and support are critical to scaling computer science education. The big takeaway for me: building strong computing education ecosystems will require collaboration across schools, industry, and communities. If you’re interested in the future of computer science education, I highly recommend the report: https://lnkd.in/gJGuFU26

I recently had the opportunity to take part in a workshop hosted by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, contributing teacher perspectives to the early review of the Computing curriculum in England. We explored how we each conceptualise Computing — I aligned most strongly with the design‑and‑making perspective — and it was interesting to see many others did too. For me, Computing is at its best when it’s practical and creative, giving students chances to make sense of concepts through hands‑on work. Across all discussions, the value of practical, hands‑on learning was a consistent theme. We also took part in an activity allocating curriculum time across ten topic areas from the Informatics Reference Framework. Algorithms, programming, and data were consistently viewed as the core and essential foundations for students, but we also shared recognition that some content may now feel overly detailed or outdated. AI also came through as an increasingly pressing area. With a focus on understanding how AI works, not just how to use AI tools. I’m grateful to have been part of such thoughtful conversations and look forward to seeing how this work informs the next steps in the review process.

efforts to expand data and computing education in K-12 settings have grown rapidly but unevenly: what to do? Here's guidance for a newly release NASEM Education report https://lnkd.in/eZt6q9vC

"The decline in computer science teachers is now reaching a crisis point with retirement looming for 20% of the current computing science teaching workforce, while fewer people are signing up to become computer science teachers. In 2025-26, just 16 people accepted places on PDGE Computing Science programmes, against a national target of 52, and of these, only a small number will make it to become long-term teaching staff." Mary Porter of KPE4 writes for the blog on the potential of the "braided career", enabling participants to split their time between the classroom and industry, to help address shortages of computing teachers. Read her full article here: https://lnkd.in/eC-dGA_U 

Great to see this piece from Mary Porter on how 'braided careers' could help tackle the shortfall of computing science teachers in Scotland. It showcases how the University of Glasgow has partnered with Skyscanner to deliver a pioneering pilot braided careers programme which enables software engineers to earn a teaching qualification and inspire the next generation of coders while still building their careers outside the classroom. https://lnkd.in/ejE_DMdp

Scotland’s digital future depends on strong computing science education, and this article highlights an innovative approach to supporting that goal. As part of our global alumni community, you know how vital skilled teachers are in inspiring the next generation of technologists. We’re proud to share conversations like this that reflect the University of Glasgow’s ongoing commitment to strengthening digital skills and widening opportunities for future learners.