IBM opening new Computer Science focused High School in NYC

http://vox.fastcompany.com/1692372/ibm-reveals-details-about-its-nyc-high-school

by flipp • 16 years ago

46 13 16 years ago

vox.fastcompany.com

markbao• 16 years ago

Very cool. Though I can't imagine the gender ratio there will promote a huge social aspect...

w1ntermute• 16 years ago

Well, it is in NYC, so I doubt the more sociable guys will have any trouble finding some extracurricular poontang.

znt• 16 years ago

I wonder what the curriculum will be like. Are they going to teach computer programming basics and methodoligies or is that school going to be a "corporate coder" machine which spews out .Net or Java developers suited for a cubicle job for IBM?

_delirium• 16 years ago

The fast-tracking angle is interesting: this is essentially high school plus community college rolled into one, but with an apparent hope that it'll be closer to a 4-year-college degree in quality due to greater preparation in the high-school years and coordination between the high-school and college curricula (it's one six-year curriculum, not a 4-year HS followed by 2-year college). Plus some employability boost from IBM's preferential hiring.

I do worry a bit about lock-in at an early age, though. A 14-year-old is young enough that a decent proportion may turn out not to really want a career in computer science after all, especially because I suspect decisions on whether to go here or not will in many cases be either made by or strongly pressured by parents. Will the curriculum be broad enough that a 20-year-old who's successfully completed it could plausibly get a job doing something other than working for IBM or a similar company? Or could they even leave at 18 with a normal HS degree and go to a 4-year college in a different major? The article is unclear about whether the 6-year-to-associates-degree part is mandatory, or if there's a possibility of opting to earn a normal high-school diploma after 4.

drfugly• 16 years ago

At that early age I wonder how much CS specific training is going to be given. Also with IBM's current focus on not just being a tech company anymore I would dream that the education is a bit diversified.

Maybe having a specific goal to drive for will make it easier students and teachers to focus on a certain goal but I don't think that it'll make the students less able to switch tracks if needed.

bd_at_rivenhill2• 16 years ago

Students will be chosen to attend using the standard New York City lottery system--one third of selected students will be below grade level, one third will be at grade level, and one third will be above.

I want to thank flipp, Fast Company, and IBM for saving me $10: I don't need to go see "Waiting For Superman" now because it's all in this sentence. Why wouldn't they just start with the most qualified applicants and fill slots until there are none left?

jj_aa• 16 years ago

I've never gone through the system, but my first guess would be it's probably so that all the slots aren't given to kids from ideal, wealthy homes, raised with tutors and computer camp, but that there's some room in there for kids who might be really bright, but also dealing with effed up home situations that knock a couple points off their standardized testing. Or who are bored as fuck in their current school but would really come alive at a CS-focused school where they can learn alongside the most qualified applicants. Because school isn't a consulting firm or a hedge fund.

bd_at_rivenhill2• 16 years ago

I can understand adjusting for socio-economic class, but why bring in kids that are working below grade level? Why not place them in a remedial program instead?

jseliger• 16 years ago

If you want to learn more and continue being spared that $10, see the list of articles I started keeping here: http://jseliger.com/2009/11/12/susan-engel-doesnt-get .

It's virtually impossible to read all of them and still think that the ways schools are organized and the role teachers unions currently play is acceptable.

astrofinch• 16 years ago

Reminds me of http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2006/07/wizard-school.html

mtraven• 16 years ago

Nice, maybe Google would be interested in doing something similar in the Bay Area? And by next September please so my high-school aged junior nerd kid can enroll? Thanks!

Tichy• 16 years ago

Somehow, without knowing the details, this makes me excited. Could there be a school where you actually learn something useful? It seems like an earth shattering concept.

forgotAgain• 16 years ago

Its interesting but I can't bring myself to trust the motivations of IBM.

There are two possible scenarios here: First IBM is being straightforward and they are trying to help redevelop the US education system. Second they are trying to develop a cheaper source of US labor.

The recent history of IBM would indicate the latter scenario is more likely.

IBM opening new Computer Science focused High School in NYC

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