EduCode™ Academy Blog
Helping Students Futureproof Their Careers
Change is the only constant
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be 1.4 million vacant IT-related jobs in the US by 2020, and only 400,000 qualified graduates to fill them [1].
The impact of advancements in technology can often be felt even in non-tech fields. For example, in approximately half of all occupations, about 30% of tasks are technically automatable, based on current technologies. [2] This means that most occupations will change, for better or worse.
When it comes to career planning, this means students need to constantly keep their eyes on the future for the skills they need and occupations they qualify for. To enjoy the full benefits of a tech-driven economy, students need to know more than just how to use technology, but also how it works and how to create it.
This is where learning to code comes in.
What does the future of work look like for my students?
Since 1990, employment in STEM sectors has grown by 79%. STEM workers tend to out-earn non-STEM workers of the same level of education, typically by 26% more. [3]
Worldwide, automation could affect 50% of the world economy, or 1.2 billion workers and $14.6 trillion in wages. Four countries make up more than half this: China, India, Japan, and the United States.
This might seem scary at first, but technological progress is also changing the way we work for the better. Digital platforms improve matching between job seekers and employers. Remote and independent work is facilitated by increased digital access. Entrepreneurship is much more possible for rural and young workers now more than ever before.
As educators, our responsibilities lie in empowering students to take advantage of these opportunities and ensure that the children of today thrive as working adults of tomorrow. Among all the STEM fields, careers in the field of technology outpace the others in terms of growth.
There are several trends in technology that are identified to experience significant growth in 2019: [4]
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Blockchain
- Robotic Process Automation or RPA
- Edge Computing
- Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
- Cyber Security
Looking at specific jobs available in STEM, according to U.S. News & World Report and the Bureau of Labour Statistics, a career as a software developer currently tops the list of best jobs. [5]
Other jobs that also made the list include:
- Computer Systems Administrator
- Computer Network Architect
- Web Developer
- Database Administrator
- Political Scientist
- School Psychologist
- Mechanical Engineer
- Information Security Analyst
- Psychologist
- Civil Engineer
- Operations Research Analyst
- Actuary
- Medical and Health Services Manager
- IT Manager
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Cartographer
- Mathematician
- Pediatrician
- Nurse Practitioner
- Orthodontist
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Dentist
- Physician Assistant
- Statistician
How do we prepare the next generation of professionals?
We are surrounded by code daily. Since virtually all fields use technology, a foundational understanding of coding, i.e. the building blocks of computer programs, will allow even students who aren't entering STEM to stay competitive and fully utilize the benefits of tech innovation.
If you are like most teachers, you do not have an extensive background and training in technology. Therefore, delivering coding education programs and curriculums can be challenging, if not overwhelming. So what do you do?
Well, thankfully, there are several software tools and programs that allow you to accomplish this with little to no training. The best of them combine specific pedagogies to deliver an effective curriculum, identified below:
- Self-directed learning
- Project-based learning
- Microlearning
- Gamification
- Contextual learning
- Blended learning
- Hacker spaces/maker spaces
- Micro-credentials for professional development
Some of these terms may sound familiar, while others may not. In our next article, we will go over each in more detail and how you can make them work in your class to "teach" coding.
Keep reading
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To enjoy the full benefits of a tech-driven economy, students need to know more than just how to use technology, but also how it works and how to create it. This is where learning to code comes in.
Over the past decade, technological breakthroughs have spurred exponential growth for career opportunities in both existing and new fields. One-third of new occupations in the United States were created only in the past 25 years.
We started this series of blog articles to help instructors, facilitators and educators plan, run and teach STEM classes or programs more effectively. Lessons should be as enjoyable and engaging for the teacher as the student. We hope that the topics we cover will provide you with some new ideas, insights and tools to create a truly immersive learning environment for your students.
