Instructors learning computer science to bring to high schools classrooms

VO: IDAHO FALLS -- Instructors in Idaho are pushing the importance of computer science courses but they're starting by attending some classes of their own.

SOT: “Computer Science is coming and we have to respond. Our civic duty in a sense is to go and make sure that we can get that into K through 12,” Heckendorn said.

VO: The University of Idaho is now offering a dual credit computer science course called CS-112, Computational Thinking and Problem Solving for high school students.

VO: Five Idaho teachers from areas like Challis, Sun Valley, and Shelley are being trained for one week to bring that option to their high schools. They are studying for six hours a day at the University of Idaho’s extension building in Idaho Falls.

SOT: “We’ve developed this course that helps bridge the gap between people who have not seen and gotten to program on computers, and our first introductory programming class,” Heckendorn said.

VO: Pam Kantack an instructor at Shelley High School currently teaches a high school computer science course hoping to offer the dual credit option locally. She feels computer science courses are vital enough to begin at the elementary level.

SOT: “Computer science is one of the fields that there are so many jobs,” Kantack said. “We have so many jobs available and not enough kids to take up that. We really need to see more computer science in schools and that’s why I’m here."

VO: Once the teachers have received their training, it is their responsibility to become further certified to bring this dual credit course to their high school.

SOT: "We’re hoping that all the teachers here will be teaching this course in there high schools,” Heckendorn said.

VO: Heckendorn said there is currently a dual credit class offered through U of I in Sandpoint, Idaho and he hopes this program will eventually be taught throughout the whole state.

VO: In Idaho Falls, I’m Natalia Hepworth, EastIdahoNews.com.