CS Ed Week: Use Giving Tuesday to Help Kids Learn & Innovate!

Are you ready to spark a love for STEM education in your community? The perfect time is during Giving Tuesday to support Computer Science Education Week (CS Ed Week) and the Hour of Code! These two events together open doors to endless opportunities. You can inspire learning, encourage innovation, and shape the future of technology.

Key Takeaways

• CS Ed Week runs from December 9 to 15th, providing an extended timeline for engagement in all things tech!
• Giving Tuesday, a global day of philanthropy, falls the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (Dec 3,2024), offering a chance to gather support for STEM and computer science initiatives.
• Despite the progress made in the last 10 years in offering computer science courses, there are long-standing gender, racial, and socioeconomic gaps in course enrollments.
• Leverage the synergy between CS Ed Week and Giving Tuesday to drive change and equip students with the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
• Celebrate CS Ed Week through innovative Hour of Code activities and create a chain reaction of engagement by inspiring others to join the movement.

What is CS Ed Week?

CS Ed Week is an annual event to inspire students and the community to explore computer science, coding, and STEM education. “It is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field” (csedweek.org).

Definition and Background

It’s a global effort to get people, especially students, into computer science. The week-long event aims to increase awareness, support coding and STEM, and show the many tech careers available.

Importance of Coding and STEM Education

Coding education and STEM are key for developing important skills. They help with critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy. By participating in computer science week, people can discover their potential, encourage innovation, and get ready for the changing tech world.

Year	Milestone
2009	Computer Science Education Week was first launched.
2013	The first Hour of Code challenge took place during CS Ed Week.
2018	The California Department of Education (CDE) developed K-12 CS standards based on the CSTA’s framework.

“Computer science is not just for computer scientists, but for everyone who wants to change the world.” – Hadi Partovi, Founder of Code.org

Coding for Kids: The Hour of Code

The Hour of Code is a global effort to get students to code for at least an hour during Computer Science Week. It’s a great way for kids to learn coding. This activity boosts problem-solving, creativity, and tech confidence.

Dr. Todd Ullah, EDforTech’s CSO, helped launch the first Hour of Code at LAUSD (Los Angeles, CA) in 2013. 200,000 students were introduced to computer science that week.  His achievements were honored with the Administrator of the Year award for expanding computer science. Todd continuously focuses on “creating equity, access and emancipatory educational experiences for the youth of Los Angeles, and indeed around the nation, as they relate to the world of computer science.” He continues to provide professional learning for educators that drives student engagement and teacher growth.

Benefits and the Need for Teaching Kids to Code

Teaching kids to code early can greatly benefit them. Over 100 million students worldwide have tried an Hour of Code. They see better thinking, logic, and creativity, key for today’s jobs. According to a Gallup Poll, 90% of parents want their kids to learn computer science, seeing its value for the future. But only 60% of schools offer these essential programs. (Get the Report: Addressing America’s Growing Demand For Information Technology and Computer Science, 2019)

Education Week’s recent article highlighted improvements in CS education in many states, but also the long way we have to go toward equity for marginalized student groups.  According to a 2024 State of Computer Science report from Code.org, millions of students still lack opportunities to engage in this essential subject.  Only 60% of US high schools and 37% of middle schools offer a foundational Computer Science course. Just 6.4% of high school students are enrolled annually. Girls still represent only 33% of students enrolled in CS courses, and there are long-standing racial and socioeconomic gaps in enrollments.

Curious about how your district is performing?  Find it on the interactive map. 

But students—including girls—who are exposed to computer science in elementary or middle school may be more likely to continue their studies in high school. “We are very much expecting to see those positive benefits as we have more kids exposed in elementary school who then take a course in middle school and high school,” Hannah Weissmen, senior director of policy for Code.org (Klein, A, EdWeek)

Activities and Resources for Hour of Code

The Hour of Code offers fun, age-right coding for kids activities and resources. Kids can enjoy interactive tutorials, video lessons, and stem coding projects. The 2024 Hour of Code will be from December 9-15, but kids can code any day.

Over 100 organizations, like every Apple Store worldwide, support the Hour of Code. It aims to introduce millions to computer science in just an hour. By joining, kids gain valuable skills, find tech passion, and prepare for future jobs.

Giving Tuesday: A Day to Give Back

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving, happening on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. It was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation. This day encourages people to give their time, resources, and money to causes they care about. This includes STEM education, computer science programs, and other tech-related projects at your school.  

How about using Giving Tuesday to raise funds and get volunteers for your school’s CS Ed Week and Hour of Code Events? Why not give it a try? 

The History and Purpose of Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday was created to counter the holiday season’s commercialism. It encourages people to give back to their communities. Since starting, it has grown a lot, with millions participating each year. In 2018, nearly $400 million was donated, showing the power of philanthropy. GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity.

• Over 100 ideas for giving back on Giving Tuesday, encouraging small acts of kindness
• Suggestions for helping out your community, business, team/club, family, college, and nonprofits
• Examples of ways businesses can support the community, such as offering consulting, donating supplies, organizing fundraising events, and volunteering together
• Ways businesses can support nonprofits, like donating office supplies, volunteering, matching employee donations, and running charity events
• Suggestions for families to help the community, such as delivering meals to the homeless, donating items to shelters, volunteering together, and adopting a family for Christmas
• Ways college students can make a difference, including hosting events, volunteering, donating textbooks, organizing fundraisers, and offering free services to the community
• Recommendations for sports teams to assist nonprofits, from hosting charity games and tournaments to donating proceeds and promoting causes
• Ideas for how college students can help nonprofits, like organizing benefit concerts, partnering with organizations, arranging auctions, and promoting causes on social media

Giving Tuesday has become a global event, with participation from many countries. This shows the growing desire to make a positive impact through philanthropy.

As the holiday season comes, Giving Tuesday offers a chance to support causes we care about. We can donate money, volunteer, or do small acts of kindness. By joining Giving Tuesday, we can make a difference in our communities and help STEM programs and computer science education grow.

CS Ed Week

CS Ed Week is an annual event that celebrates computer science. It shows how important it is in our tech world. This week lets students, teachers, and everyone learn about coding and computer science.  To learn more about it, here is a video from the 2023 kickoff of CS Ed Week.

Importance of Computer Science in Today’s World

Digital skills are key for success today. Computer Science Ed Week shows how education prepares students for jobs. It lets people see the many careers and innovations in computer science.

• Computer Science Education Week was founded in December 2009 by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
• CS Ed Week has been celebrated every year since, and continues to grow in popularity in schools. It now has the support of the Computer Science Teachers Association, National Science Foundation, Code.org, CSforAll, Kapor Center, Google, Microsoft, and others.
• In 2014, the Hour of Code themed CS Ed Week reached over 15 million students and 35,000 events across 167 countries.
• In 2015, the Hour of Code campaign reached 100 million “hours served,” making it the largest education campaign in history.

CS Ed Week is a great time to learn about the field’s growth. It’s a chance to meet the computer science community and push for more education. By joining, you can see the many career options in computer science. Get our Free guide linked at the end of this article to learn how you can host a schoolwide CS Ed Week Event.

“Computer science is not just for coders. It’s for anyone who wants to solve problems and make a positive impact on the world.”

Join the celebration of CS Ed Week. Dive into the exciting world of technology and innovation.

STEM Programs and Coding Education during CS Ed Week

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs and coding education are key for the future. They help students get ready for the workforce and make our society more tech-savvy. These programs teach critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital skills needed for many tech, engineering, and science jobs.

Investing in STEM programs and coding education is vital. Schools, groups, and communities can prepare the next generation for the digital world. These programs offer chances for students to explore and develop skills for the fast-changing job market.

STEM programs and coding education help fix the gender gap in computer science. Only 31% in these fields are women. These programs aim to make education more inclusive and support the next generation of tech leaders.

These programs also tackle issues of equity and accessibility. Factors like race, income, and disability can limit access to computer science education. They aim to provide resources and chances for all students to become tech literate.

With the rise in demand for computer science jobs, investing in STEM programs and coding education is crucial. By giving students the skills and knowledge for the digital age, we can unlock their potential. This will lead to a more innovative and tech-driven future.

“Computer science is not just for computer scientists, but for everyone who lives in the 21st century.” – Grace Hopper, a pioneering computer scientist

Fostering Technology Literacy and Computational Thinking

In today’s world, it’s key for students to have strong tech skills. Technology literacy means knowing how to use digital tools well. Computational thinking is about solving problems by breaking them down into smaller steps.

Importance of Developing Digital Skills

Teaching digital skills gets students ready for the 21st-century job market. With tech in our lives, knowing how to use digital tools is vital. Educators help students become tech-savvy, ready to face the digital world.

Strategies for Teaching Computational Thinking

• Use coding activities to teach problem-solving and sequence.
• Use robots and hands-on coding kits especially in grades K-8 to teach critical thinking and troubleshooting.
• Teach through real-world problems to apply computational thinking.
• Make tech skills part of all subjects, not just one.
• Encourage schools to implement a computer science curriculum.

These methods help students get the tech and problem-solving skills needed for today’s world. They become part of the STEM community. 

Excited by the possibility of a coding event for your school? Get our Free Guide linked at the end of this article to learn how you can host a CS Ed Week Event at your school.

“Computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just for computer scientists. To reading, writing, and arithmetic, we should add computational thinking to every child’s analytical ability.” – Jeannette M. Wing, Computer Scientist

Computer Programming for Kids: Resources and Tools

Teaching kids about computer programming and coding is now easier than ever. There are many fun resources and tools out there. Kids can explore technology and learn to think computationally through interactive platforms and hands-on activities. EdforTech provides turn-key STEM lab kits with computer science curriculum and teacher training to make it easy to implement.

Online Coding Platforms for Kids

Platforms like Code.org, Scratch, and Khan Academy make learning to code fun. They offer interactive tutorials, coding games, and visual programming environments. These tools help kids learn programming basics while improving their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. 

Hands-on STEM Activities and Projects

Hands-on STEM activities and projects are also great for kids. They can build robots, create circuits, and design simple apps. These activities let kids apply their coding skills in a real-world way. Teachers can use robotics and curriculum from EDforTech to engage students in coding with hands-on project-based learning. Lessons are aligned to CS-K12 standards for grades K-12.

“Coding is the 21st century skill that every child should learn.“

Introducing kids to computer programming for kids and coding for kids opens up many possibilities. It prepares them for a future filled with technology.

Parents, educators, and community groups can use online coding platforms and STEM activities to inspire kids. This helps build a love for technology and computational thinking in the next generation.

Career Paths in Computer Science and Technology

The tech industry has many exciting career paths. Students can launch careers in software engineering, data analysis, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence. Exploring these options helps them find the right fit for personal interests and skills.

Exploring Different Tech Careers

Some of the most sought-after tech careers include:

• Software Developer – Median salary: $124,000 per year. High demand in tech hubs like Silicon Valley and New York City.
• Web Developer – Median salary: $80,000 per year. Create and maintain websites and web applications.
• Data Scientist – Average salary: $156,000+ per year. Leverage data to uncover insights and drive business decisions.
• AI Engineer – Average salary: $117,000 per year. Develop intelligent systems and applications powered by artificial intelligence.
• UX Designer – Average salary: $78,000 per year. Improve user experiences for digital products and services.
• Information Security Analyst – Median salary: $81,000+ per year. Protect organizations from cyber threats.

Source: World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report

Preparing Students for Future Jobs

To prepare students for tech careers, we need to focus on developing key skills. These include coding, critical thinking, and problem-solving. STEM education and hands-on learning are essential for success in the tech world.

“The future of work is in tech, and the future of tech is in the hands of today’s students.“

Inspire Learning During CS Ed Week

Giving Tuesday is a great way to support CS Ed Week – both are great chances to inspire learning and help others. By joining these events, you can support STEM education and coding programs. This helps develop important digital skills for the future.

STEM coding events help make our society more tech-savvy. They prepare students for today’s job market. And they help create a brighter future for everyone. 

During Giving Tuesday, raise funds to support CS Ed Week and help kids dive into the world of computer science. They’ll learn about software, hardware, and the tech basics. Educators can also pick up new coding skills and join in on the STEM activities!

Using resources that make computer science education available to all is also key. This helps ensure everyone has a chance to succeed in tech.

Giving Tuesday can help schools celebrate CS Ed Week and make a big difference. Your leadership in bringing computer science to your school helps the next generation of innovators. It also advances our digital world.

“Let’s ignite the future together! We welcome administrators and teachers to Join us in transforming classrooms into hubs of innovation by supporting CS Ed Week. Let us help provide hands-on resources, training, and project ideas that make it easy to integrate computer science into your school’s curriculum. Make this year’s CS Ed Week an unforgettable experience for your students—prepare them to become tomorrow’s innovators!

Not sure where to start? Get our Free Guide to Hosting a Schoolwide CS Ed Week Event and start planning your school’s CS Ed Week activities today! 

If you need a more comprehensive STEM plan for your school or district, Get our Free STEM Plan Template:

Our STEM Specialists are ready to assist in planning a memorable CS Ed Week for your school. Let’s learn, work together, and make a positive impact. Together, we can change our community and the world for the better. 

EdforTech welcomes foundations and corporate sponsors to join us to make STEM education available to schools with limited resources. We have a list of schools, and ready to implement CS/STEM programs for K-12.

(This article was generated as a collaborative effort between the human author, Linda Nichols-Plowman, CEO of EDforTech and the AI assistant, Claude Sonet).

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