According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Technology Occupations, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm, Employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. These occupations are projected to add about 557,100 new jobs. Demand for these workers will stem from greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security.   The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $86,320 in May 2018, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $38,640.  In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2020, there will be more than 1.4 million computer science related jobs available, but only 400,000 qualified candidates to fill them. This represents a huge opportunity for today’s young people.

In order to help prepare today’s youth for tomorrows careers, the 2018 4-H National Youth Science Day experiment, Code Your World, helped teach youth ages 8-14 to apply CS to the world around them through hands-on activities. Developed by Google and West Virginia University Extension Service, it includes a computer-based activity on Google’s CS First platform and three unplugged activities that bring coding to life through games and interaction.

59 Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Agents, Volunteers and Teen Leaders received instruction on the Code Your World experiment and how to help youth understand the importance Computer Science plays in everyday activities and problem solving.  Using Computational Thinking concepts such as Decomposition (breaking big problems into smaller, more manageable ones), Pattern Recognition (understanding how to look for and analyze repeating sequences), Abstraction (simplifying complex problems by ignoring irrelevant information) and Algorithm Design (creating step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish a task.

One example of how these individuals provided learning opportunities to Kentucky 4-H Youth comes from Danielle Hagler, 4-H Youth Development agent in Nelson County.  

Danielle writes:

“Over 50% of Nelson County students receive free or reduced-price school meals.  The most recently posted school assessment testing (2016-2017) shows that 50% of elementary school and 61% of middle school student perform at the novice and apprentice level for math. This is higher than the state average.  

In response, Nelson County 4-H and the two of the Kentucky 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Leadership Board members partnered with 29 classrooms teachers at 5 elementary and one middle schools to present the 2018 National Youth Science Day Challenge, Code Your World,  with 850 students in grades 4 and 5.  

Outcomes:

Of the 367 students who have completed the program evaluation, 70% can define algorithm, 82% can interrelate computational thinking to the importance in problem solving. 86% can describe how computer science influences the world around them. 70% wrote an algorithm to accomplish a task.”

With a continued focus on helping develop youth interest in the area of Computer Science, Kentucky 4-H also is working with National 4-H Council and Google to help grow a Computer Science Pathway for Kentucky Youth by involving Teen Leaders (4-H Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Board) to provide their peers and younger 4-H Members the opportunity to experience hands-on Computer Science activities related to Coding and Robotics Programming.  These Board members have reached over 2000 youth as well as adults to spark and interest in learning more about Computer Science and careers related to that field.