“It must be a strange world not being a scientist—going through life not knowing—or maybe not caring about where the air came from, where the stars at night came from or how far they are from us. I want to know.”
-Michio Kaku
When I was 10 years old, I began to see the world of
electronics unfold around me. Gradually, many of my friends were excited at the
process of obtaining their own cell phones; I remember the Motorola Razor was
in style when I was in middle school. Today, I look around and see 10 year-olds
using smartphones to check Facebook and play games. As computers, cell phones,
tablets, and other electronic devices continue to play an increasingly eminent
role in the development of modern society, it is important that young students gain
a better understanding of how these devices work as to understand the power of
their roles in our everyday lives.
My parents gave me my first cell phone when I was in 6th
grade. It’s the type of phone that has become termed the “dinosaur”: a three
and a half inch phone with a square screen measured about half an inch on each
side with large pad-dialing and no cover. I had been excited to finally have
ownership of this thing I learned to call a cellular phone. In late elementary
school, I was exposed to the world of computers, having typed my first
assignment all by myself. I was fascinated by the huge monitor, the wireless
mouse, and the CPU. As a kid, I had no idea how these devices worked, but I knew
one thing for sure: they offered me an awful lot of convenience in life.
Instead of walking in to an office near my bus stop to call my mom and tell her
I was there, I could call her directly from my cell phone. Rather than trying
so hard to write in a straight line as neatly as I could for my science poster,
I could type on Microsoft Word, and even make my words fancy with WordArt.
For the past 18 years of my life, I have taken these
electronic devices for granted. I use them daily for my social life, school,
work, and other resources. During my pre-collegiate life, I was too familiar
with the stereotype given to students who were interested in the details of
electronics. They were termed geeks and nerds, and commonly labeled to have “no
life.” The internet portrayed them constantly sitting in front of a computer
with no rays of sunshine seeping through their windows. This falsified image is
what initially drove me away from computing, and I even neglected my computer
science classes upon entering college. However, after a year of meeting so many
diverse individuals and finally taking my first computer language class (read my initial reaction to C++ here), I have grown to have
tremendous respect for those who excel at computer science – the individuals
who have allowed society to now rely on dependable devices.
As stated in this NY Times article which was published a few years ago, I believe that there are
two major changes needed for the education of younger generations: the public
perception of computer scientists which is ingrained in young students’ minds,
and the need to implement computer science in their education so students can better
understand the power it plays in their everyday lives. The UCLA Computer Science Project has had great progress
and success in exposing high school students to the realm of computer science. The
curricula emphasizes problem-solving through brainstorming and interpreting
algorithms while incorporating social analysis concepts for students to better
understand what computer science algorithms are realistic for today’s society.
I believe that the work of the UCLA Computer Science
Project and other similar projects can be extended to younger students in
elementary and middle school. At that point in their lives, kids are most
curious about their surroundings and how things work. By learning algorithms at
a young age, students develop logic and critical thinking skills, ultimately
improving their skills in other subjects such as mathematics and even language
arts. They could outgrow the idea of a geeky computer scientist frantically
coding and gain more respect for individuals who ensure the development of safe
technology for the general population and maybe, one day, become the person to
form the next groundbreaking device for future generations. Perhaps these kids
will develop a liking for making games or designing animations. One unknown
success of the computer science world is the progress made in the Wireless Health Industry. The well-being of humanity
is becoming even more dependent on the research in computer science areas.
Athletes rely on wireless devices to improve their stamina and performances,
and individuals are able to measure their heart rate and temperatures on-the-go
without the need for overwhelmingly expensive equipment.
Students who are educated and inspired by computer
science will ultimately gain skills and ideas that are worthwhile for a
lifetime. The goal is not to be
converting every child into a future computer scientist, but to have them
understand basics in the world of electronics which is gradually becoming a
core part of society. As more affordable and convenient devices are being
developed and, most importantly, understood
by the general public, computer science developments can not only changing the
lives of those in Los Angeles and the United States, but the lives of people
all over the world.
