{"679831":{"#nid":"679831","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u0027s Computer Science Initiative Expands Opportunities for Rural Students ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, where rural communities often face barriers to accessing advanced education in science and technology, Georgia Tech is leading a transformative effort to bridge the gap. The Rural Computer Science Initiative, designed by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI) and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ceismc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing\u003C\/a\u003E (CEISMC), is redefining computer science education for underserved school districts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program, inspired by Georgia state representative Todd Jones, connects Georgia Tech faculty and students with rural schools to co-teach engaging computer science lessons while supporting local teachers in developing the skills needed to independently teach these subjects. As Rep. Jones explains, \u201cAt the end of the day, your birthplace should not determine the type of education you receive here in our state.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmpowering Teachers and Students\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough a combination of remote teaching and in-class collaboration, the program is already active in 40 school districts, with plans to expand in 2025. The program\u0027s co-teaching model enables rural teachers to upskill while offering students dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities. Shiona Drummer, a participating computer science teacher in Twiggs County noted, \u201cIt\u0027s been really good to me because I did not have a background in computer science. Being a part of the program has influenced my teaching in that I know I have colleagues I can call on.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor students, the program unlocks new possibilities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022It\u0027s been fun. It\u0027s something new,\u201d shared a Twiggs County student. \u201cYou get to just express yourself,\u201d she continued. \u201cMost classes, you just sit there, pretty much just bored. This class, you get to interact with things, and it\u2019s just more fun.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese reactions reflect the initiative\u0027s broader goals: to inspire students, foster their confidence, and connect their education to real-world challenges. Lizanne DeStefano, CEISMC\u2019s executive director, emphasizes this point: \u201cThe way that we\u0027ve designed the Rural CS Initiative is that the student work is embedded in real-life problems, particularly those that affect our rural communities.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPreparing for the Future Workforce\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond classroom learning, the program is helping shape Georgia\u2019s future workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Rep. Jones highlights the initiative\u0027s broader implications: \u201cWe\u2019ve given [students] that opportunity and that springboard to be able to do things they possibly may never have had the opportunity to do. It provides a greater educated workforce \u2014 one that brings us into 2030, 2040, and 2050 with the advent of AI, autonomous vehicles, and other technological advancements.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative is also tackling one of the pain points for rural communities: the belief that young people must leave their hometowns to find well-paying, high-value jobs. DeStefano explains, \u201cWe\u2019re using this as a way to show how students can remain in their communities, contribute to them with a computer science degree or knowledge, and still be an important cog in the global workforce.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow the Initiative Works\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe professional development aspect of the Rural Computer Science Initiative helps ensure that the teachers can sustain the program\u2019s impact long after Georgia Tech\u2019s involvement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeigh McCook, who leads the initiative at GTRI, outlined the process: \u201cWe first meet with the teachers, providing professional development to walk through the modules and show them how they should get involved in the classroom. Then we co-teach the first week and guide problem-based learning in the second week to assess student comprehension.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnsuring that cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics are paired with a problem-based learning approach, is how Georgia Tech is properly equipping rural students with 21st-century skills.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cKnowledge is power,\u201d said Rise\u2019 Jenkins, principal at Twiggs County High School. \u201cOnce you show students what\u2019s available to them and the access they have, they just readily embrace the idea of learning.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn initiative that moves beyond education into more of a transformation, this program aims to prepare students for careers in emerging fields while ensuring Georgia remains competitive in the global economy. CEISMC\u2019s DeStefano notes, \u201cWe\u2019re not thinking about filling jobs today; we\u2019re thinking about filling jobs for the next decade.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith 40 schools systems throughout Georgia participating so far, Georgia Tech\u2019s Rural Computer Science Initiative bridges the educational divide for underserved communities across the state by connecting Georgia Tech faculty and students with rural school systems to co-teach dynamic computer science courses, empowering teachers with new skills and inspiring students to pursue tech careers while addressing workforce needs for Georgia\u0027s future economy.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Rural Computer Science Initiative empowers rural teachers and students in Georgia through co-taught computer science courses, preparing them for tech careers and supporting Georgia\u2019s future workforce."}],"uid":"36174","created_gmt":"2025-01-22 21:27:27","changed_gmt":"2025-01-29 16:44:20","author":"Blair Meeks","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676129":{"id":"676129","type":"video","title":"Georgia Tech\u0027s Rural Computer Science Initiative","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWith 40 schools systems throughout Georgia participating so far, Georgia Tech\u2019s Rural Computer Science Initiative bridges the educational divide for underserved communities across the state by connecting Georgia Tech faculty and students with rural school systems to co-teach dynamic computer science courses, empowering teachers with new skills and inspiring students to pursue tech careers while addressing workforce needs for Georgia\u0027s future economy.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746137","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:15:37","changed":"1737746137","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:15:37","video":{"youtube_id":"l_WkYWHhoS4","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/l_WkYWHhoS4"}},"676131":{"id":"676131","type":"image","title":"Twiggs County computer science class","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETwiggs County students are interacting with Georgia Tech instructors through the Rural Computer Science Initiative\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746495","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:21:35","changed":"1737746495","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:21:35","alt":"This image shows computer science students in Twiggs County, Georgia in their virtual class with Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"259854","name":"IMG_0894.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/IMG_0894_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/IMG_0894_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1407340,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/24\/IMG_0894_0.jpg?itok=LaSX6KUi"}},"676132":{"id":"676132","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech instructors online with Chattooga County students","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Rural Computer Science Initiative allows for remote instruction and interaction with Georgia Tech faculty and students.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746687","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:24:47","changed":"1737746687","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:24:47","alt":"This image shows Georgia Tech instructors in Atlanta online with computer science students in Chattooga County","file":{"fid":"259855","name":"GT students rural CS back closer.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/GT%20students%20rural%20CS%20back%20closer_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/GT%20students%20rural%20CS%20back%20closer_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2634149,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/24\/GT%20students%20rural%20CS%20back%20closer_0.jpg?itok=HXlLZmrL"}},"676130":{"id":"676130","type":"image","title":"Participating school districts","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThis image shows that the Rural Computer Science Initiative is reaching every corner of the state of Georgia, and the program has plans to expand.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746176","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:16:16","changed":"1737746339","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:18:59","alt":"These are the 40 school districts throughout Georgia that are currently participating in the Rural Computer Science Initiative","file":{"fid":"259853","name":"RuralDistricts_still.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/RuralDistricts_still.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/RuralDistricts_still.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":358909,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/24\/RuralDistricts_still.jpg?itok=C4wWCTDI"}}},"media_ids":["676129","676131","676132","676130"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/rural-georgia-high-schools-computer-science-program-reaches-new-heights","title":"Rural Georgia High Schools Computer Science Program Reaches New Heights"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/newsroom\/gtri-georgia-tech-launch-computer-science-pilot-program-rural-georgia-high-schools","title":"GTRI, Georgia Tech Launch Computer Science Pilot Program for Rural Georgia High Schools"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[{"id":"167487","name":"STEM education"},{"id":"411","name":"CEISMC"},{"id":"416","name":"GTRI"},{"id":"815","name":"economic development"},{"id":"1690","name":"rural economic development"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Blair.Meeks@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBlair Meeks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Blair.Meeks@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}