Why Computer Science is Essential Education for Today’s Students
November 30, 2022
Computer science is all around us – from the phone in your hand to the car you drive, the weather forecast that helps keep you dry to medical innovations that make life better for people around the world.
This week is the 20th-annual Computer Science Education Week, a celebration that inspires K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate contributions to the field. Held each December, CSEdWeek invites students to dive into computer science and highlights the importance of computational thinking, creativity, and problem-solving in preparing for the tech-driven world ahead.
That future-driven approach is exactly what drives FIRST(R) as we engage young people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to ready them for the future – whatever it might hold. STEM education creates avenues to a wide range of careers and opportunities, and computer science is no exception: A degree in computer science can open doors to roles in software development, data science, game development, cloud solutions, IT, robotics, UI/UX, research science and much, much more. Not every student has a clear vision for their future career from a young age, but early exposure to fields like computer science and hands-on educational opportunities through FIRST help young people keep all their options on the table.
To help students envision the range of opportunities a career in computer science affords, we asked several FIRST sponsors how they are making an impact with computer science:
Aptiv: Aptiv’s mission is to enable a safer, greener, and more connected future of mobility, and computer science is a key piece of the products that Aptiv works on to achieve that mission. A few examples include the algorithms in its advanced driver assistance systems, the firmware that opens up hardware functionalities, the middleware that allows communication between applications, and the data dashboards that allow people to gain insight about fleet management.
Photo Credit: Aptiv
John Deere: In just one example, John Deere is using computer science to integrate cutting-edge AI advancements into its dealer solutions applications. By leveraging the latest industry AI research, it implements tools that allow dealers to search a broad variety of data sources, identify potential leads, and streamline the sales process. This technology helps John Deere’s dealers become more efficient in their roles by automating tasks that do not add direct value. As a result, they can focus on customers, leading to greater success for both the dealers and John Deere itself by enhancing productivity and fostering growth in the agricultural industry.
Photo Credit: John Deere
Medtronic: At Medtronic, computer and data scientists build AI models to help diagnose disease, identify trends, predict consumer needs, inform product improvements, optimize supply chain operations, and create personalized user experiences. By integrating computer science and AI into its products and processes, Medtronic is advancing health outcomes and raising the standard of care – including diagnosis and treatment of disease – for more than two people every second around the globe.
Photo Credit: Medtronic
Computer science is an exciting, dynamic field and FIRST equips students with the skills they’ll need to ‘go pro’ in computer science and beyond. If you’re a FIRST alum making an impact in computer science, share your story with us at marketing@firstinspires.org.