The Thorny Issue of CS Teacher Certification

Posted by Chris Stephenson, Head of Computer Science Education Programs

(Cross-posted on the Google for Education Blog)

There is a tremendous focus on computer science education in K-12. Educators, policy makers, the non-profit sector and industry are sharing a common message about the benefits of computer science knowledge and the opportunities it provides. In this wider effort to improve access to computer science education, one of the challenges we face is how to ensure that there is a pipeline of computer science teachers to meet the growing demand for this expertise in schools.

In 2013 the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) released Bugs in the System: Computer Science Teacher Certification in the U.S. Based on 18 months of intensive Google-funded research, this report characterized the current state of teacher certification as being rife with “bugs in the system” that prevent it from functioning as intended. Examples of current challenges included states where someone with no knowledge of computer science can teach it, states where the requirements for teacher certification are impossible to meet, and states where certification administrators are confused about what computer science is. The report also demonstrated that this is actually a circular problem - States are hesitant to require certification when they have no programs to train the teachers, and teacher training programs are hesitant to create programs for which there is no clear certification pathway.

Addressing the issues with the current teacher preparation and certification system is a complex challenge and it requires the commitment of the entire computer science community. Fortunately, some of this work is already underway. CSTA’s report provides a set of recommendations aimed at addressing these issues. Educators, advocates, and policymakers are also beginning to examine their systems and how to reform them.

Google is also exploring how we might help. We convened a group of teacher preparation faculty, researchers, and administrators from across the country to brainstorm how we might work with teacher preparation programs to support the inclusion of computational thinking into teacher preparation programs. As a result of this meeting, Dr. Aman Yadav, Professor of Educational Psychology and Educational Technology at Michigan State University, is now working on two research articles aimed at helping teacher preparation program leaders better understand what computational thinking is, and how it supports learning across multiple disciplines.

Google will also be launching a new online course called Computational Thinking for Educators. In this free course, educators working with students between the ages of 13 and 18 will learn how incorporating computational thinking can enhance and enrich learning in diverse academic disciplines and can help boost students’ confidence when dealing with ambiguous, complex or open-ended problems. The course will run from July 15 to September 30, 2015.

These kind of community partnerships are one way that Google can contribute to practitioner-centered solutions and help further the computer science education community’s efforts to help everyone understand that computer science is a deeply important academic discipline that deserves a place in the K-12 canon and well-prepared teachers to share this knowledge with students.

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Calculating The Market Value Of Cisco Training For CCNA Certification

By Mary Jackson

To someone who is considering taking the Cisco training courses, a typical concern is whether taking the classes is worth the initial investment of money and time. In a modern world that is more hectic every day, time is generally as important to professionals as money. Therefore, it makes sense that people want to know if the time it takes to be trained and certified will lead to an attractive salary.

Based on recent research, a short answer to whether Cisco courses are of much value to people is yes. After they take the entry level classes, most individuals move on and take at least Associate level Cisco certification courses. Online Cisco training to achieve a CCNA, which means Cisco Certified Network Associate, is comprehensive, and it generally enables students to be considered for highly desirable jobs in the industry of technology.

One of the factors that determine the average market value of the courses is the kind of employment a professional could reasonably expect after being properly trained. CCNA training enables people to qualify for work in a broad array of technology jobs, which is why such certification is of such great value to people who work in technology. Typical employment possibilities that might be offered to someone with a CCNA may include a job as an information technology manager, a network engineer, or a systems administrator.

Knowing what positions one might be qualified for is only one aspect of determining whether the courses are worth the time and money. The major factor that determines market value of training is the average salary of such job positions. Exploring the results of various research and market studies can help prospective students to make that determination.

According to the site for a company called PayScale, on which people have access to useful information on the salaries of a wide range of professionals, the salary a professional might expect after having taken the CCNA courses is quite appealing. Based on evidence from a report that is provided on the PayScale site, involving 8,074 people and updated on December 13, 2013, a trained systems administrator might expect to secure a salary annually of between $41,657 and $86,677 in United States Dollars.

In the same report offered by PayScale, statistics show that the salaries for other related employment positions are also enviable. A CCNA trained individual who is an information technology manager may expect to earn between $50,487 and $111,568. Network engineers are able to enjoy attractive salaries, too. A network engineer generally makes between $44,509 and $92,522 each year. A senior network engineer makes an average of between $67,457 and $118,623.

A national salary trend report that is displayed on the site for Indeed offers data that is impressive, too. As recently as December 22, 2013, the average salaries for job listings for people with CCNA certification are 36 percent higher than average salary listings for all jobs being posted in the U. S. Based on the data that is available on the site, the overall average annual salary for CCNA trained individuals is $83,000.

It is logical that a prospective student might question whether Cisco training to become certified as a CCNA is worth the investment of effort, time and money. Many people who ask such a question are apt to be satisfied with the answer. After doing some research, an individual may determine that the jobs and median salaries associated with a CCNA are well worth the courses one takes to become certified.

About the Author:

Our official homepage has full info about our online IT courses that you can take part in right away. For complete details about how to get certification, click on this link http://www.onlineitcourses.com.

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