Who Belongs in Computer Science? Supporting All Students in Developing CS Skills  by Rose Gaylen There’s much more to Computer Science than white guys in khakis hunching over a computer in the basement level of an office building (or perhaps, more recently, from home). Computer Science is a vital area of study for students, yet in many states not only is it not a requirement, but there is also no Computer Science program to speak of. This is harmful from both an equity and economic standpoint.  In a 2021 report entitled, “The Computer Science Teacher Landscape: Results of a Nationwi ..read more

by Rose Gaylen Couragion is a STEM work-based learning platform designed to ignite curiosity and passion in students. Couragion opens the door to a realm where diverse STEM role models and interactive challenges converge. This platform goes beyond traditional learning methods, seamlessly integrating real-world applications into interactive videos and educational activities.   Discover how Couragion connects to classroom lessons with this fun project, which provides a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical applications. This captivating activity is tailored to inspire and ..read more

What’s the difference between the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” and “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If you pose these questions to young students in elementary or middle grades, does the answer vary depending on ethnicity or gender, even though it shouldn’t?  I want to help build rockets, I want to be a doctor for elephants, I want to invent a way for my disabled sibling to move through the world as easily as I do...these answers should not only occur to young students (and they can!) – they should also occur to girls and traditionally underrepresented gr ..read more

by Rose B. Gaylen I am not good at math – I have told myself this for years and years. Most of my life, in fact.   I wanted to be an architect when I was younger, so my parents got me a kid’s set of drafting tools and traceable blueprints. I then got busy making floor plans that defied the laws of physics and didn’t make any engineering sense at all.  Lately, however, I’ve been thinking about my math ‘skill’. How, when, or why, did I suddenly at such a young age, become ‘bad’ at math, before I’d even acquired most of the skills? As I read about elementary girls who have already ..read more

There’s much more to Computer Science than white guys in khakis hunching over a computer in the basement level of an office building (or perhaps, more recently, from home). Computer Science is a vital area of study for students, yet in many states not only is it not a requirement, but there is also no Computer Science program to speak of. This is harmful from both an equity and economic standpoint.  In a 2021 report entitled, “The Computer Science Teacher Landscape: Results of a Nationwide Teacher Survey”, the proportion of teachers who identified a lack of student interest as a challenge ..read more

National Mentoring Month (NMM) has always held a special place for Couragion. We are so thankful for our Couragion role models who serve as amazing virtual mentors for thousands of underrepresented students. I appreciate how students view our role model mentors as guides. “I really enjoyed this career quest. I felt my guide knew a lot about his field and was very passionate about it.” - Black Female High School Student - About User Experience Technologist Role Model Couragion's digital portfolios were designed to activate mentors as proficient coaches and advocates. Each portfolio gives a de ..read more

At the beginning of November, I attended the global Computer Science (CS) Education Conference in Los Angeles, California. Hundreds of leaders in education gathered in-person and virtually to learn about the current state of computer science education. I had the pleasure of hearing from industry leaders like Stephen Pruit, Southern Regional Board of Education (SREB), United States; Carolina Oses, Generación Code, Ecuador; Monica Retamal, KODEA, Chile;  and Juliet Walters, Kids Code Jeunesse, Canada, who are all impacting education in exciting ways.. During the conference, a clear theme em ..read more

I recently read a new report entitled The American Upskilling Study: Empowering Workers for the Jobs of Tomorrow. To fuel the research, Gallup surveyed over 15K workers in the U.S. labor force about their opinions on upskilling. Upskilling is the act of providing an individual with more advanced skills through additional education and training. The research explored employee interests and motivations for pursuing upskilling, the availability of and participation in those opportunities, and the impacts of completing upskilling programs. Below are a few high-level takeaways in each of those cate ..read more

The Computer Science Teachers Association and the Kapor Center recently published a report entitled "The Computer Science Teacher Landscape:  Results of a Nationwide Teacher Survey". Nearly 3,700 PreK-12 CS teachers were surveyed across the nation in the summer of 2020. The CS research explored the school system, equity, and its impact on students. Below is a quick look at a few of the findings from the CS teachers who responded. Teachers cited the number one challenge in CS education to be a lack of school buy-in, with the lack of teacher subject knowledge coming in at number thre ..read more

We have exciting news to share - the Couragion family is growing by 22 employees, one fantastic building, and a shared vision for inclusive change through workforce development experiences. Today, we become part of MindSpark Learning in a much-anticipated acquisition. I will join the MindSpark team as the Chief Strategy Officer.  For those of you unfamiliar with MindSpark, it’s a Colorado-based nonprofit that delivers extraordinary and sustainable learning experiences for professionals to solve society’s biggest challenges. MindSpark’s global footprint will expand Couragion’s reach, acce ..read more