The Power of Diversity for Innovation

Earlier this week, I published, Amplifying Computational Thinking, joining the celebration of computer science education week. And, significantly, today is Grace Murray Hopper’s birthday (December 9, 1906)! Hopper was a pioneering computer scientist, inventor of one of the first compilers and a business-oriented programming language that led to the development of COBOL. She was also a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Honoring Hopper sends a strong message that has been embraced as a core value of computer science education advocates: as we elevate the importance of computer science, we must increase diversity in the field by broadening the participation of women and underrepresented minorities.

There are at least three economic reasons why everyone should act to ensure gender and racial diversity in computer science. First, computer science careers tend to pay well, and people who get jobs in the field will have more earning power than they would have otherwise. Second, research shows that when women prosper, so do their families and the communities in which they live. Third, there is growing recognition that diversity is necessary for innovation and excellence in many areas of endeavor.

An article in Scientific American by Katherine W. Phillips of Columbia Business School, makes a strong case for diversity as a driver of innovation. The article was first published in 2014 and re-published in 2017 in response to the Trump administration’s efforts to close borders to refugees and visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

“When people are brought together to solve problems in groups, they bring different information, opinions and perspectives,” wrote Phillips. “This makes obvious sense when we talk about diversity of disciplinary backgrounds—think again of the interdisciplinary team building a car. The same logic applies to social diversity. People who are different from one another in race, gender, and other dimensions bring unique information and experiences to bear on the task at hand. A male and a female engineer might have perspectives as different from one another as an engineer and a physicist—and that is a good thing."

The simple truth is that the lack computer science education and training opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities hurts American companies in search of the best high-tech talent… and that hurts America’s global competitiveness and our economic health, security and growth.

Amplifying Computational Thinking called for increasing research into inclusive pedagogies to ensure that efforts are as evidence based and well placed as possible. Research, combined with spotlighting stories of programs in and out of school that are successful and inclusive, will inspire and inform others as they design and implement programs that engage women and underrepresented minorities with computer science and computational thinking.

Coincident with CSEdWeek, Digital Promise published a paper, “Computational Thinking for a Computational World”, that makes the case for ensuring all students are provided opportunities to engage with computational thinking across their educational experience.