“We want students to understand what a computer can do, what a human can do, and why that’s different,” says Mark Guzdial, Professor of Computing at Georgia Tech. When it comes down to it, that’s all computer science really is: the relationship between humans and computers. Computer scientists use their creativity hand-in-hand with technology to solve real-world problems.
Traditionally, computer science can be defined as the creation of programs and algorithms that assist in the development of software, systems, and networks. This involves lots and lots of programming, or coding. While coding is certainly an important part of computer science, it’s only one part of the field. Computer scientists need to use critical thinking to tackle problems from abstract (What kinds of problems can we solve with this algorithm?) to tangible (How could we turn this into an iPhone application so people can access this information on the go?).
This blog post takes back to the basics and addresses the history, popular technologies, and types of jobs that use computer science. Then, watch the video below to hear our curriculum writers discuss computer science in education. They discuss misconceptions about computer science and skills required for both teachers and students.
Computer science has only emerged recently, right? Well, not so fast! Computer science has a long and rich history, starting in 2400 BCE. Here are some highlights:
You would be hard pressed to find any modern technology that doesn’t use computer science. In fact, looking at Lafayette College’s list of Top 30 Innovations, computer science impacts every single one. Since we can’t talk about the whole list, let’s dive into 3 examples of technologies across the sectors of biology, gaming, and social networking that use computer science daily.
Companies like 23 and Me and Ancestry use DNA samples to determine everything from origin and ethnicity to genetic health risks. Scientists use genotyping, which compares your DNA to a sample set of DNA to determine differences. This, of course, is all done via an algorithm on a computer! Another way these companies use computer science is through data collection and presentation. The beautiful and easy-to-read charts you receive are designed and compiled by a computer scientist.
4K is a relatively new display resolution for screens; its display is 3840 x 2160 pixels, or four times the pixel count of an 1080p HDTV. Basically, a 4K TV will look sharper than most TVs on the market.
The recently released Xbox Series S/X and Playstation 5 are both compatible with 4K monitors. Although competitive players in the industry still use 1800p screens for quick and precise movements, 4K is ideal for story-based gaming with beautiful graphics. And with the price of 4K monitors coming down, it’s clear this technology isn’t going away any time soon.
File compression occurs when the size of a file is converted, or re-encoded, so it uses less space. That way, files can be easily shared, transferred, and stored. What is responsible for this technology? Computer science, of course!
File compression is particularly important for social networking sites. As you upload media to platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, the files are compressed to fit hosting guidelines and storage capacity. This is especially important for video content, since those files tend to be HUGE! You can thank file compression next time you scroll through TikTok with little to no buffering.
As we mentioned in the first section, computer science is when people use their creativity hand-in-hand with technology to solve real-world problems. As a result, the field of computer science is wildly diverse! These days, MOST careers rely on knowledge of computer science or computer science skills.
Knowing this, we can empower students to prepare futures in computer science from a young age. Computersciene.org crafted a helpful guide that offers information about computer science careers. The page lists career growth and outlook, salary information by state, and employers of computer science graduates. According to the guide, the top jobs in computer science include Computer and Information Research Science, Computer Network Architect, Software Developer, Information Security Analyst, and Database Administrator.
In addition, ere are five examples of computer science careers featured in our Confidence Builders interview series – a far from exhaustive list, but hopefully seeing some sample job titles is inspiring. Click on each job title to learn more about that particular career.
And that wraps up our brief study of the question, “What is computer science?”. There’s still SO much more to explore! With a true lifetime of learning already available and new innovations yet to discover, there is boundless opportunity for young students to be introduced to computer science as soon as possible.
When you’re ready to take your students’ computer science knowledge to the next level, explore our computer science curriculum offerings for grades K – 12. Who knows what our students have yet to write in the computer science history books!
