By 2020, there will be 1.4 million computing jobs available and fewer than 466,000 qualified college graduates to fill those jobs, according to TEALSk12.org. Richard Frovarp wants to help close that gap.
Frovarp, senior software engineer in NDSU’s Information Technology Division, detoured to Oak Grove Lutheran High School a few mornings every workweek last semester to teach an introduction to computer science class. He co-taught the class with a local software developer and fellow volunteer, Shane White, through Microsoft’s Technology Education and Literacy in Schools, or TEALS, program.
TEALS aims to build sustainable computer science programs in high schools by pairing trained computer science professionals with classroom teachers to team-teach computer science.
Ten students, grades 10-12, were enrolled in the class at Oak Grove Lutheran High School.
“Students at Oak Grove were extremely excited about the class and felt fortunate to be able to have the additional offering on their schedule,” said Chad Slyter, Oak Grove’s business and technology instructor.
Students learned computer science fundamentals through a lab-based curriculum modeled after the class “The Beauty and Joy of Computing” at the University of California, Berkeley. The Oak Grove curriculum included lectures, quizzes, and homework. Students spent the majority of class time engaging in activities and lab work, including programming their own video games in Snap! visual programming language.
Students were not the only learners in the class. Slyter had no previous background in coding, but with the help of Frovarp and White, he learned the curriculum to prepare to teach the course in the future. White and Frovarp, both NDSU alumni, pursued education in computer science. White earned a bachelor’s degree in new media and web design with a minor in computer science. Frovarp holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and is working on his master’s degree in the same field.
Last fall was Frovarp’s first semester volunteering with TEALS. Frovarp joined TEALS after visiting with founder Kevin Wang at a software developers’ conference in April 2015. Wang works for Microsoft and founded the TEALS program in 2009. His enthusiasm for infusing high school classrooms with computer science education recently landed Wang a spot on Fortune’s “Heroes of the 500” list.
In the conversation that inspired Frovarp to volunteer with TEALS, Wang noted his personal connection to NDSU. His father earned a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from NDSU in the early 1990s. Wang said he would like to see more NDSU alumni involved in the TEALS program.
For Frovarp, the program has been both professionally and personally rewarding. To join as a TEALS volunteer, Frovarp first participated in the program’s extensive online training that aims to build communication skills and improve teaching methods for all volunteers. Personally, Frovarp has seen firsthand the effects the program has on students.
“The most rewarding part isn’t just teaching these students, but rather that the program is helping to set up a class that will continue to teach students long after my participation ends.” Frovarp said.
Fargo and West Fargo are among the first to offer TEALS programs in the region.
For more information on the TEALS program, go to https://www.tealsk12.org.
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