The IT Workforce & Computing Education in Massachusetts

1. The IT Workforce & Computing Education in Massachusetts Data, Issues, Options, and Challenges Rick Adrion

2. Outline • Characterizing the IT Workforce • The Innovation Economy & Western MA • Computing Education in MA • What CAITE/ECEP and MassCAN are doing

3. … and is critical to success of every economic & industry sector Computing is everywhere! health care finance entertainment manufacturing transportation bio-pharma medical devices energy

4. IT Workforce = Apples and Oranges (and Bananas) BLS Standard Occupational Classification Internet Marketing Managers Computer and Information Systems Managers Medical Records Administrators Computer Training Specialists Computer and Information Research Scientists Computational Theory Scientists Computer and Information Research Scientists Computer Research Scientists Computer and Information Analysts Computer Systems Analysts Data Processing Systems Analysts Computer Security Specialists Information Security Analysts Computer Programmers Database Developers Software Applications Developers Health Information Coders Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Network and Computer Systems Administrators Computer Network Architects Computer User Support Specialists Desktop Support Specialists End-User Support Specialists Computer Network Support Specialists Computer Laboratory Technicians Computer Hardware Designers Computer Hardware Developers Computer Hardware Engineers Computer Information Systems Professors Computer Science Professors Information Technology Professors Library and Information Science Professors Medical Records Library Professors Multimedia Collections Specialists 3D Animators Multimedia Animators Multimedia Artists Database Security Administrators Medical Records Specialists Medical Records Technicians Information and Record Clerks Computer Operators Computer Peripheral Equipment Operators Data Entry and Information Processing Workers Data Entry Keyers Data Input Clerks Desktop Publishing Specialists Computer Repairers Data Processing Equipment Repairers Computer Control Programmers and Operators Software Systems Software Developers and Architects Web Developers Database and Systems Administrators and Network Architects Database Administrators Variety of skills and pathways to get them

5. The MA Innovation Economy • Massachusetts ranks number 1 nationally in: • knowledge jobs, high tech jobs, managerial, professional and technical jobs, workforce education • Massachusetts ranks number 2 nationally in: • fast growing firms, migration to the state of U.S.-based knowledge workers, broadband telecommunication infrastructure and deployment, health IT, and investments of venture capital. • The 2012 State New Economy Index. • Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

6. Where are MA IT Professionals working? Traditional Tech Sector BLS: MA Sectors and MA C&MO

7. What are their jobs? Traditional Jobs for BSCS grads + Computer Systems Software Engineers/Developers, Computer Systems Analysts, and Computer Software Applications Engineers/Developers 2nd, 4th and 5th most in-demand occupations in the Life Sciences Industry alone and are expected to grow 28% - Donahue Institute BLS: Job Titles and MA C&MO

8. What about W MA? Total (not IT) Employment Tech Sector Tech Sector Total civilian WF = 332,700

9. Massachusetts Demographics – inequity • By most measures, the MetroWest suburbs have more jobs, income, higher educational levels, & less poverty

10. Is there a labor market shortage for IT professionals? • Answer: yes and no • More openings than there are graduates to fill those positions • Openings vary widely by region • Traditionally fill openings by importing talent and by keeping non-resident MA college grads • Computing degrees are not a prerequisite for filling an opening in many sectors, jobs, and regions

11. Why should we be concerned? • Why is it important to Massachusetts? • Need to create opportunities broadly not just in Cambridge & Metro West • Need to create opportunities not just for traditional IT workers • Need to be attractive to employers across every economic sector

12. Is there a shortage? 2013 grads vs proj. openings statewide Grads with computing degrees Openings for computing grads IPEDS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, MTC

13. STEM Job Openings in Massachusetts Almost ½ of openings can be filled by those with degrees in computing bigger gap Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce

14. How is K-20 education important? • Given the demand for graduates with computing, computational thinking and 21st century skills, the education sector is critical • Early access to computing and computational thinking is needed – no later than the middle school level • But this requires quality curricula and quality teaching at K-12 and increasing the capacity and breadth in higher education • Every HS student should have the opportunity to study computing and develop computational thinking skills –computer and information literacy is no longer enough

15. K-12 Computing Education • Uneven offerings in MA schools and districts • and computing courses don’t count for graduation nor for entrance to HE • Lack of standards • computational thinking in Common Core and ST/E? • existing national standards for K-12 computing, but not even voluntary standards for computing • No licensure/certification for teachers; no pre-service programs; limited in-service PD  leads to reduced interest in computing careers or higher education computing programs

16. The K-12 standards picture • Changing MA landscape • Common Core: ELA & Math • New ST/E (NGSS?) • Career & College Readiness standards • PARCC • MassCAN • National efforts • code.org • ECS & CSP MA TechHub Talent Working Group

17. AP exam taking (MA) AP-CS is the only “standard” computing curriculum in MA other than CVTE Programming & Web Design College Board

18. AP-CS: Participation & Diversity College Board

19. Where the schools are: Districts with more than 10 AP-CS test-takers and more than 3 with passing 3-5 grades • In 2013, 71,950 students enrolled in “computing” courses, but 55,786 in K-8 in introductory (literacy), media or robotics • 2,261 CVTE students, 500 grads, 80% to HE • 4,118 students were enrolled in “programming” courses, but only 585 of these in AP-CS courses. • 64,850 2013 high school graduates.

20. Computing in Post-Secondary Education • Need to prepare graduates for the skills they will need in an Innovation/Information Economy • Over eighty 2- and 4-year degree programs • Declining completions? • Increasing enrollment? Strained capacity? • Are opportunities available for all citizens? • Will workforce diversity, particularly in design & development, reflect the diversity of consumers and applications? • What about alternative pathways? • MOOCs • Stacked Certificates • Apprenticeships

21. Interest in 4-year computing majors nationally NSF S&E Indicators

22. Interest in computing majors: gender & diversity

23. Computing program enrollments up? MIT grew 41% UMass Amherst 99.6% Computing Research Association Taulbee Survey of PhD-granting institutions

24. IT Degrees Awarded by Area (MA, 2012) Academic Career

25. MA CIS Degrees by Gender, Ethnicity

26. … now a word from my sponsor = + • A new National NSF BPC Alliance formed from 2 very successful BPC regional Alliances • Pathways • Articulation, roadmaps, mentoring, advising • Networks, collaboration, outreach, advocacy • On-campus and many regional events • TechHub and MassCAN for advocacy • Professional development • 2013: Artbotics, Scratch, App Inventor, Exploring Computer Science, LEGO Mindstorms + Partners/Associates + CSTA + NCWIT + STARS + “Experts”

27. MassCAN • A partnership of organizations collaborating to inspire and educate Massachusetts students in computing and prepare them to lead and innovate in a future economy that will be dependent on and driven by computer technology • Make CS count for HS graduation & college entrance (via MassCORE) • Integrate computional thinking into K-8 • Create voluntary standards for computing • Promote PD with code.org and others • Define teacher certification requirements • Inform and inspire educators, administrators, parents, and students Standards What is taught Curriculum How computing is taught Professional Dev Who teaches computing Public Awareness Why to study computing National Partners Massachusetts Partners • www.masscan.net

28. Questions ?

29. extras

30. Changes in IT Occupations

31. GA K12 CTE Tracks

32. MA VCTE Data