Information Technology
New Guidance from TeachAI and CSTA Emphasizes Computer Science Education More Important than Ever in an Age of AI
launches with three briefs developed by TeachAI and CSTA in partnership with AAAI, AI4K12, Code.org, Digital Promise, Everyday AI, the German Informatics Society, Grok Academy, and leading researchers including Karen Brennan , Shuchi Grover , Maya Israel , and Matti Tedre. The briefs draw on early research and insights from CSTA members, organizations in the TeachAI advisory committee, and expert focus groups to address common misconceptions about AI and offer a balanced perspective on critical issues in CS education, including:
"CS teachers are leaning into teaching with and about AI, yet it will take more than CS teachers to advance AI literacy. This guidance serves as an example for the entire education community to consider as we wrestle with the role of AI in all subjects and every classroom," said Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer of Code.org and Lead of TeachAI.
As AI becomes increasingly present in the classroom, educators are understandably concerned about how it might disrupt the teaching of core CS skills like programming. With these briefs, TeachAI and CSTA hope to reinforce the idea that learning to program is the cornerstone of computational thinking and an important gateway to the problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative thinking skills necessary to thrive in today's digitally driven world. The rise of AI only makes CS education more important, with early research showing that people with a greater grasp of underlying computing concepts are able to use AI tools more effectively than those without.
"Even in an age of AI, teachers are indispensable for delivering high-quality and equitable computer science education," said Bryan Twarek , Head of Research and Innovation at CSTA. "We aim to empower teachers by prompting their thinking with some early insights from other educators and researchers."
To inform this initiative and better understand educator perspectives and expectations related to the role of AI in CS curriculum and education, TeachAI and CSTA conducted a survey of primary and secondary computer science teachers in the spring of 2024.
"We need to help students learn to ask questions well," said Christina Gardner-McCune , associate professor at the University of Florida and co-chair of AI4K12. "We need to teach them to have ownership of these tools."
In celebration of the launch, TeachAI will host launch webinars on Wednesday, August 14 . To register, visit www.teachai.org/webinars or visit teachai.org/cs to learn more about the guidance.
TeachAI brings together education leaders and technology experts to assist governments and education authorities in teaching with and about AI. The initiative is led by Code.org, ETS, the International Society for Technology in Education, Khan Academy, and the World Economic Forum and advised by a diverse group of 150+ organizations, governments, and individuals. TeachAI's goals include guiding policy, building community and capacity, and increasing awareness. To learn more about TeachAI, please visit www.teachai.org/about .
The Computer Science Teachers Association's (CSTA) mission is to empower, engage, and advocate for K-12 computer science teachers worldwide. With more than 25,000 members, CSTA supports and promotes the teaching of computer science and other computing disciplines. Visit https://csteachers.org/ to learn more.
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