Athens High classes lack coding | The Post

From Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg to former President Bill Clinton, more and more leaders agree that coding is the way to a more technologically advanced future, and schools across the country are hopping on board.

At a time when new jobs can be scarce, Code.org estimates 1.4 million new jobs will be created in computers by 2020.

While some schools offer computer programming and coding classes, many school districts see computer programming as a course that is easy to cut to save funding, said John Slattery, who teaches science at Athens High School.

?We think that there?s a need for it because some students need to be able to think logically with 21st century skills,? Slattery said. ?(Coding) is a great way to get kids to think more logically and sequentially.?

Slattery taught information technology courses for 25 years at Athens High School, but because of budget cuts, he had to start teaching regular science courses two years ago.

In past courses, Slattery has taught word processing, HTML and GameMaker ? basic coding programs.

Though Athens County Schools Superintendent Carl Martin and Athens High School Principal Mike Meek said it is absolutely important to learn about coding and new computer technology methods, neither is able to fit coding courses into the curriculum.

?(Coding) is not something that?s a front-runner in terms of our budget, but we?ll definitely take it into consideration in the future,? Martin said. ?Our energies right now are implementing the proper core requirements set up by the state and federal learning standards and instruction.?

While Meek doesn?t see computer technology courses being added to the curriculum within the next few years, he said he sees even more advanced technology down the road, in which everything in schools will be computer-based.

?Over the next few years, you?ll probably see schools who will start meeting those types of technological needs,? Meek said. ?I can see books going by the wayside in the future. It probably won?t happen during my tenure, but it will eventually.?

While computer programming courses are offered at Ohio University, the only way to make these courses a reality in high schools is to make them a priority in the curriculum.

?I?d really like to see us be able to (teach more coding classes), but, unfortunately, the interests and demands of the administration don?t really focus on that because of the budget constraints and focus on standardized testing,? Slattery said.

az346610@ohiou.edu

Source: http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/athens-high-classes-lack-coding

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