Computer Science Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Concord University Offering Cyber Security Degree

Concord has had a cyber security emphasis in its computer science major for several years and is seeing an increased demand for a cyber security emphasis.

This fall, Concord University is offering a new Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. Lonnie Bowe, assistant professor of computer science, said the school has had a cyber security emphasis in its computer science major for several years, and is seeing an increased demand for a cyber security emphasis.

“This is an innovative, in-demand program,” Bowe said. “We’re proud and excited to bring it to southern West Virginia. There has been a growing demand for this from both students, government officials and the industry. Our caring and dedicated faculty look forward to launching students into new careers for years to come.”

The Concord announcement comes the same week Marshall University received $45 million in taxpayer dollars to go towards its new Institute of Cyber Security.

Bowe said while Marshall’s program is focused on cyber and digital forensics, Concord’s program is keyed to increasing software security.

“We did a lot of research,” Bowe said. “We looked up standards from the National Security Association, from professional associations like the Association for Computing Machinery, and put together all their recommendations in building out our senior level advanced classes.”

Bowe said it was important to give local southern West Virginia residents local access to this job generating education.

“We have a lot of first generation students who don’t want to go very far from home,” he said. “We also have people who are in the workforce and wanting to come back, and they can’t just up and leave their families to drive to Huntington. So being able to have access an hour or so from where they live is really important.”

Bowe said a Concord B.A. in cyber security can be a pathway to Marshall University’s cybersecurity masters degree program.

W.Va. K-12 Schools See Rise In Popularity, Access For Computer Science

A report from the West Virginia Department of Education says access to computer science courses has notably increased over the past four years. This comes after a 2019 Senate bill that had the department create a development plan in K-12 schools.

The report was given to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Educational Accountability during Sunday’s legislative interim meetings.

Erika Klose coordinates computer science initiatives for the state’s Department of Education. She says the report indicates 76 percent of West Virginia high schools are now teaching computer science courses as of 2021. That’s 30 percent higher than before the bill was passed. It is expected to increase further this school year.

“Our goal is that every high school in the state will have access to a trained computer science teacher, every middle school will have access to a trained computer science teacher,” Klose said during the meeting. “If there’s one educator in each school at each grade level, they can support those that they teach with in providing that computer science instruction.”

More than 1,100 West Virginia teachers have undergone professional development courses relating to computer science since the initiative began in 2019, including 116 high school, 181 middle school and 819 elementary school teachers.

Digital literacy classes are similarly growing in popularity, with an estimated 242 schools in West Virginia offering courses this school year after a House bill required the state Board of Education to implement the Mountain State Digital Literacy Project in 2019.

W.Va. Among Top 10 States For K-12 Computer Science Classes

West Virginia is among the top 10 states in the nation to offer foundational computer science courses in public schools.

The recognition comes from an annual report released by the State of Computer Science Education: Accelerating Action Through Advocacy.

According to the report, 76 percent of public high schools in West Virginia offered foundational computer science courses last year. That’s a significant increase from three years ago when they were offered in just 46 percent of schools.

The courses are intended to teach coding, like HTML, and to help students learn about technology’s impact on the world.

“West Virginia recognized years ago the need to increase access to computer science among our K-12 students, and [this] report reflects our consistent efforts to prepare students for the economies of today and tomorrow,” said State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch. “We will continue to work with our governor, legislators and higher education partners to maintain our focus on the importance of these courses while encouraging students to take advantage of these offerings.”

Since 2018, the state department of education has partnered with West Virginia University’s Center for Excellence in STEM Education, which developed a robust structure for the expansion of computer science education in the state.

The CodeWV program is housed at WVU, and has reached more than 870 teachers in 52 of the state’s 55 counties.

Gov. Jim Justice signed SB 267 in 2019, which charged the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) with reaching all public school students with computer science.

According to the WVDE, the law makes West Virginia one of the first to require all students to start their computer science education in elementary school and be exposed to a variety of computer science experiences until graduation.

The State of Computer Science Education report was released by Code.org, the Computer Science Teachers Association and the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance.

Justice Signs Bill Mandating High School Computer Science Classes

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed legislation requiring students to take computer science classes before graduating high school.

Justice held a ceremonial bill signing Thursday, Feb. 28, at Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School in Beckley.

The governor’s office says in a news release West Virginia is the first state to require high school computer science. Justice predicts it will help attract technology companies to the state.

The governor asked for the legislation in his State of the State address.

The bill requires the state Board of Education to adopt a policy detailing computer science instruction by grade level and requires the Department of Education to come up with professional development opportunities to teachers in computer science instruction.