Announcing Our 2024 Commitment to CSforALL: Equipping Students with Foundational AI Knowledge
At the eighth annual CSforALL Summit, which took place October 23-25, 2024, we announced our plans to further our commitment to expand student access to computer science (CS) education. VHS Learning has made a commitment to advancing computer science education every year since the movement’s inception in 2016.
The 2024 CSforALL Summit brought together hundreds of organizations and education professionals for networking, keynotes, and exhibitions aimed to inspire action and make a noticeable difference in computer science education. Each year, the summit ignites meaningful conversations between national thought leaders, highlighting strategies for equity and action, removing barriers to access, and building empowering computer science engagement for all students.
This year, a total of 143 commitments to the CSforALL movement were pledged by 136 organizations. CSforALL commitments are new, specific, and measurable actions aimed at advancing the goal of rigorous and inclusive computer science education for all US youth and are designed to grow support and momentum for a sustainable K-12 computer science education system in and out of school. These 143 commitments will impact an incredible total of over 1.6 million beneficiaries worldwide, including students, families, educators, and school districts.
VHS Learning’s 2024 CSforALL Commitment
For our 2024 CSforALL commitment, VHS Learning will develop and deliver a new high school level half-credit computer science course, Artificial Intelligence, during the 2024-2025 academic year. In this course, students will explore the history of artificial intelligence and learn how machines are programmed, trained and learn. Students who take this course will also consider the impact of AI on society.
Leading Action to Impact
This year’s CSforALL Summit theme was focused on Leading Action to Impact, to encourage individuals and organizations to move beyond solely learning or talking about computer science education, and instead taking concrete steps that create positive change for all students. Through this endeavor, CSforALL aims to further promote a movement that empowers future generations to become creators, innovators, and problem-solvers who can shape the world with technology.
Notably, 74 organizations are prior CSforALL commitment-makers, and 7 of those organizations—including VHS Learning—have made annual commitments since the implementation of the CSforALL Commitments model. As of the 2024 summit, CSforALL announced that in just eight years of the movement they have collected an incredible 1,416 commitments from organizations across the globe that are working towards making high-quality computer science an integral part of the education experience.
Why VHS Learning Makes CSforALL Commitments
Here at VHS Learning, we’re proud to make commitments to CSforALL year after year. We continue to support this movement because it’s important for students to have improved access to computer science courses. With a high-quality and comprehensive CS education, students gain valuable and marketable skills that prepare them for college, their careers, and other future endeavors. Plus, computer science education equips students with widely applicable critical thinking skills that support ongoing learning and opportunities throughout their lives.
Our commitment this year is timely and relevant as artificial intelligence has emerged as an essential tool in education, technology, and so many other industries. Understanding AI and its impact on society and technology is essential, regardless of a student’s future field of study or career aspirations. Our new Artificial Intelligence course will help prepare students to be responsible creators and innovators and will equip them with a better understanding of how AI technologies are reshaping every aspect of our lives.
As a long-time supporter of CSforALL, we are proud to be a part of the movement to improve CS education nationwide. We believe all students deserve equal access to educational opportunities that help them prepare for the future of technology. We look forward to offering our new Artificial Intelligence course online for high school students, while continuing to advocate for improved CS education and access for students all over the U.S.
