Computer Science Education Week

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Children Educational Technology
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Second week of December
Holiday emoji:: 💻

Computer Science Education Week, or CSEd Week, inspires K-12 students to explore coding and computational thinking every second week of December. This global initiative aims to demystify computer science and highlight its importance in problem-solving. Encourage students to participate in an ‘Hour of Code’ or explore local STEM events.

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Expected Computer Science Education Week Deals

For Computer Science Education Week, the focus shifts from commercial deals to educational access and support. Organizations like Code.org, Girls Who Code, and Black Girls Code often partner with tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Apple to offer free coding tutorials, online courses, and classroom resources. Expect initiatives like discounted STEM kits from retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, along with grants and scholarships promoted by institutions like the National Science Foundation. We will update this page with confirmed live resources and programs as December 8 approaches.

Platform Guide for Computer Science Education Week

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #CSEdWeek. Share insights on tech education and future career paths.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #CSEdWeek. Highlight innovative classroom projects or share inspiring stories of young coders.

YouTube

Subscribe to @NationalToday for holiday video content. Create short tutorials or interviews with CS professionals.

Computer Science Education Week Hero

Grace Hopper

Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (1906-1992) was a pioneering computer scientist and U.S. Navy rear admiral. She developed the first compiler for a computer programming language and coined the term 'bug' for a computer error. Her work significantly advanced programming languages and made computers more accessible, earning her the nickname 'Grandma COBOL.'

History of Computer Science Education Week

Computing in the Core Coalition initiated the first Computer Science Education Week in 2009. Tech giants such as Google, Intel, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) came together to fund the special week. The week of December 6-12 was chosen in honor of Grace Hopper’s birthday. She was born on December 9, 1906, and is known as the pioneer of computer programming.

In 2013, Hadi Partovi, founder, and CEO of Code.org started the initiative called the “Hour of Code” in which over 15 million students across 167 countries participated. In 2015, the “Hour of Code” reached 100 million hours, making Computer Science Education Week the largest education campaign in history! Thanks to its widespread popularity and participation, the “Hour of Code” continues to be an event that still generates a lot of attention.

Computer coding is also known as programming. Codes are programs that tell the computer what to do by writing out instructions. Although a regular user might not see it, coding is everywhere. Any computer device, such as desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones uses coding. Coding is also essential in the creation of websites and apps. Computer coding also drives the most intelligent robots. Along with coding, this week also promotes the importance of computer science education. Computer science benefits society in countless ways. Its numerous applications mean that computer science also creates jobs. Research shows that the jobs in this field are expected to grow by 13% by 2026. This is much faster than all other occupations. For this reason alone, students are more likely to take computer science classes in higher education.

Computer Science Education Week timeline

1842–1849

Ada Lovelace Writes the First Code

This English mathematician and writer, writes code on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine.

1940s

Modern Computers

The first recognizably modern electrically powered computers are created.

1954

FORTRAN Created

FORTRAN, a general-purpose programming language, is invented at IBM by a team led by John Backus.

1995

JAVA Written

JAVA, a high-level programming language, is developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Computer Science Education Week

Local businesses and tech companies can celebrate Computer Science Education Week by hosting open house events or virtual coding workshops for students. Offer mentorship opportunities, share insights into tech careers, or provide small grants for school STEM programs. Highlight how computer science impacts your industry and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Computer Science Education Week FAQs

When is Computer Science Education Week?

In 2026, Computer Science Education Week runs from Tuesday, December 8, through Monday, December 14. It’s a prime opportunity to engage with the world of coding and digital literacy.

How many students participate in the Hour of Code?

The Hour of Code, a flagship event of CSEd Week, has engaged over a billion students in more than 180 countries since its inception. Millions worldwide participate annually, making it the largest learning event in history.

Why is computer science education important?

Computer science education is crucial because it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, skills vital for success in any 21st-century career. It prepares students for a rapidly evolving digital world.

Is computer science a growing field?

Yes, computer science is one of the fastest-growing fields globally, with high demand for skilled professionals in areas like software development, cybersecurity, and data science. Job growth is projected to continue significantly.

How to Observe Computer Science Education Week

Encourage students to join the “Hour of Code”
More than 200,000 “Hour of Code” events are held during this week in over 180 countries. Encourage students to engage in the “Hour of Code” event during Computer Science Education Week.
Learn to code
You can even teach yourself to code. The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out what computer programming language you want to use. Some of these include HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Learn to code by book, take an online course, or use an interactive tutorial.
Post on social media
Don’t forget to share this educational week on social media with #ComputerScienceEducationWeek or #CSEdWeekDon’t forget to share this educational week on social media with #ComputerScienceEducationWeek or #CSEdWeek. You can even give a shout-out to your program and computer engineer friends.

5 Facts About Coding And Programming That Will Blow Your Mind

There are around 700 programming languages
Some of the most popular languages are JavaScript, Swift, Scala, Python, PHP, Go, Rust, Ruby, and C++.
Applications in all fields
Coding is used for communicating with computers — so it enables anyone from any field to operate efficiently on computers.
Viruses figured out before computers were built
German mathematician, John von Neumann, first theorized the concept in the late 1940s.
Young hackers
The first released computer virus, Elk Cloner, was written by a 15-year-old. It infected Apple II computers.
NASA still uses programs from the 1970s
NASA chooses not to write new code or design new programs, as it would be expensive, so if it still works, they use it.

Why Computer Science Education Week is Important

Computers are everywhere
Almost everything that we use today is powered by a computer in some way. This week recognizes the integral role that computers play in modern life.
It highlights a life-skill
In today’s day and age, it’s important to know how to work with a computer. At the very basic level, we all use laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Adequate information on how to use these devices optimally can make life so much easier and provide career opportunities.
It creates job awareness
As we learned earlier, jobs related to computers are growing at an incredible speed. Participating in Computer Science Education Week can help you find a job you like or give you an edge in your current position.