By Julie Flapan and Rudy Escobar, EdSource
As computer science educators and parents, we are not alone in our struggle to balance the good and bad of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI). As much as we’d like to slow down its speedy adoption in our schools, there’s no putting this genie back into the bottle.
Instead, we need to move quickly to ensure that students have the tools they need to understand and use these new technologies safely and effectively. The best way to do this is through computer science education that incorporates ethics and responsible use of technology, thinking critically about potential harm and opportunities for social good.
And, just as importantly, we must extend this knowledge to parents. Our most recent initiative, Plugging Into Power, is helping parents make informed decisions by exposing them to what quality teaching and learning about technology can look like in schools. When parents understand what human-centered AI and computer science education can be, they are better equipped to advocate for increased access to classes taught by well-prepared teachers and, as a result, can better support their kids to be successful in them.
When parents understand how computer science is the foundation of both AI literacy, which includes learning about AI, ethics and impacts, as well as AI education, which includes learning with AI, parents can be more effective advocates for the right kind of tech in their schools.
More than basic digital literacy (typing, coding and edtech tools), computer science is the deeper learning that teaches students to be critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers, developing a robust understanding of the technologies they encounter every day, like artificial intelligence (AI), which is one branch of computer science.
Unfortunately, only about half of California’s public schools currently offer computer science, and past efforts to ensure that all schools offer high-quality computer science classes have failed because the state did not provide the necessary resources to make that a reality.