Latin School of Chicago

latin magazine » spring 2015 25 Computer Science Thinking To Shandor Simon, director of information technology and coordinator of the computer science initiative, introducing students to the depth and breadth of computer science is a critical distinction between simple computer literacy and fostering an entire mindset. "Computer science requires logical reasoning, collaborative problem solving and critical thinking," said Simon. ese are far-reaching skills that are useful in understanding and navigating the world in general. ey also provide a foundation for students to be able to "create and adapt new technologies rather than merely being skilled at working with existing technology," which is likely to be outdated by the time they graduate. He expects that computer science soon will be considered a core course of any liberal arts education, as important as English, math or science. In many ways, creating a JK-12 computer science program is pioneering work. According to Forbes, only about 10 percent of K-12 schools currently teach computer science. "Structuring a program at this level is sort of untrodden ground, at least when you compare it to established subjects where there is an understood sequence," explained Wrobel, who also has worked with the nonprofit organization Code.org to write curriculum. "You are not working off a model. You have to try some things, see if they work and get feedback." A major challenge that the team has faced is fitting another subject into an already packed schedule. In the upper school, Wrobel offers a year-long Computer Science Principles elective. Wrobel surveys the class every week to find out what works and what doesn't. "We wanted to make it as attractive and accessible as possible, so that students would try it out," he said. Another goal was to make the class inclusive, not tailored to students who are already interested in computer science or have an affinity for technology. Wrobel spends much of his time in class differentiating his teaching for students so that both the experienced and Girls Who Code When senior Yulissa Arroyo was considering an independent study course on web development during her junior year, a number of her male friends made her feel that it probably wasn't for her. "Even though they didn't say it, I got the feeling that they thought I wouldn't like it because I am a girl," she said. Yulissa didn't hesitate; she signed up and discovered a new passion. Since then, she has joined Latin's Girls, Let's Code! club and Chicago Girls in Computing, an organization that exposes girls to computer science careers; has taken the Computer Science Principles elective; is considering a summer program with Google; and plans to double major in computer science and environmental policy at Barnard College. "One thing I really like about computer science is that you can do anything you want with it," Yulissa said. "Social justice and the environment are things I care about, and it is really cool knowing that I could do something in computer science that relates and might even make a difference." Yulissa is among a number of girls in all three divisions at Latin who have shown both an interest and a talent in the subject, something that Patty Cushing, upper school tech coordinator and sponsor of the Girls, Let's Code! club, feels bodes well for the future. "It's exciting to see how many girls have taken the initiative to find opportunities to become more involved," Cushing said. Addressing the gender gap in computing and technology has been a focus of Latin's computer science team. Fewer than 18 percent of computer science majors and about 20 percent of computer programmers in the U.S. are women. By introducing computer science early, the team hopes to foster an interest in girls before they get to an age where they self-segregate. In the meantime, strong and determined young women at Latin are already bridging the gap. Sophomore Maat Bates recently was accepted into the prestigious IIT Boeing Scholars Program, which provides opportunities for students in STEM. Meanwhile, classmate Liza Kaniewski created a community service initiative to teach computer science to children at an underserved school in Uptown as part of the application process for She++, a Stanford University program that empowers women in tech. "I'm fascinated by how coding is in everything. It is changing our society, and I want to be part of that," Liza explained. Coding women: (left to right) Yulissa Arroyo, Liza Kaniewski and Patty Cushing. 25 latin magazine » spring 2015

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