What kids need to know about data and computing for our complex, technological world

What kids need to know about data and computing for our complex, technological world Nancy Butler Songer discusses what children need to understand about data and computing in our complex technological world. Data and computing are everywhere and receive near-daily media attention. Artificial intelligence (AI) is pervasive, moving fast, and expanding unevenly. We all encounter these technologies, including learners from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Interestingly, despite our increasingly technological-infused world and the need for K-12 students to practice learning with and about data and computing, activities that emphasize knowledge and skills that undergird data and computing are not yet a backbone of most pre-university curricular programs. Most likely, this is a result of the rapid pace of change and a lack of common understanding of how competencies related to data and computing are connected to material already in the curriculum and leveraged to improve student learning.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Open Access Government
Published
2026-04-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.56367/oag-050-11971
Primary Topic
Teaching and Learning Programming
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

What kids need to know about data and computing for our complex, technological world

Nancy Butler Songer
Open Access Government
Teaching and Learning Programming
article

What kids need to know about data and computing for our complex, technological world

Nancy Butler Songer
article en

Abstract

What kids need to know about data and computing for our complex, technological world Nancy Butler Songer discusses what children need to understand about data and computing in our complex technological world. Data and computing are everywhere and receive near-daily media attention. Artificial intelligence (AI) is pervasive, moving fast, and expanding unevenly. We all encounter these technologies, including learners from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Interestingly, despite our increasingly technological-infused world and the need for K-12 students to practice learning with and about data and computing, activities that emphasize knowledge and skills that undergird data and computing are not yet a backbone of most pre-university curricular programs. Most likely, this is a result of the rapid pace of change and a lack of common understanding of how competencies related to data and computing are connected to material already in the curriculum and leveraged to improve student learning.

Open Access GovernmentVol. 50(1)
University of Utah (US)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Teaching and Learning Programming
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

What kids need to know about data and computing for our complex, technological world — Nancy Butler Songer · Open Access Government (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS