VOA慢速英语2018 微软调查发现美国学校缺少计算机科学培训

Microsoft: US Schools Short on Computer Science Training

A new study of American teachers suggests that there is a major shortage of computer science training in U.S. schools.

一项针对美国教师的最新调查表明，美国学校的计算机科学培训存在严重不足。

The study, released last week, was a joint¹ effort between American technology company Microsoft and the international research company YouGov.

上周发布的这项调查是美国微软科技公司和国际舆观（Yougov）研究公司的联合行动。

The study asked more than 500 K-12 educators across the U.S. a series of questions about classroom training for computer science and coding skills.

这项调查询问了全美国500多名K-12教育工作者一系列关于计算机科学和编程技能课堂培训的问题。

The study found that 88 percent of teachers agreed that computer science is very important to a person’s future success in the workplace.

调查发现，88%的教师认为计算机科学对于个人未来的职场成功非常重要。

Microsoft noted² a U.S. government prediction that by 2020, there will be 1.4 million computer science-related jobs available. However, U.S. college graduates are expected to take less than 33 percent of those jobs. The company also estimated that 10 years from now, 77 percent of jobs in the U.S. workforce³ will require technology-related skills.

微软公司指出，美国政府预测，到2020年将会有140万个计算机科学相关职位，然而，预计美国大学毕业生只能填补其中不到33%的职位。该公司还估计，10年后，美国职场中77%的职位都需要科技相关技能。

Microsoft says that currently, only about 40 percent of U.S. schools offer computer science classes that include computer programming. The company said that a shortage of teachers with the necessary skills is also a major concern.

微软公司表示，目前只有大约40%的美国学校提供了包括计算机编程在内的计算机科学课程。该公司表示，缺乏具备必要技能的教师也是一大担忧。

In the study, 30 percent of teachers said they felt underqualified in their ability to help prepare students for a future in computer science or coding. Another 20 percent said they felt “overwhelmed” with that responsibility.

在这项调查中，30%的教师表示，他们自认能力不足以帮助学生为计算机科学或编程做好准备，还有20%的教师称他们对这一责任感到不堪重负。

In addition, 25 percent of the teachers said computer science was not a subject their students are currently tested on. And about 20 percent said the subject was not taught in their classrooms at all.

此外，25%的教师表示，计算机科学不是他们学生目前要考核的科目，还有约20%的教师表示在课堂上完全不教该科目。

The most common reason given by teachers for the low level of computer science training is a lack of government money to pay for such programs. About 30 percent blamed a lack of funding for why schools are not providing more technology-related learning.

教师们提出的计算机科学培训水平较低的最常见原因是缺乏政府资金支持此类课程。大约30%的教师将学校没有提供更多科技相关培训归咎于缺乏资金支持。

Mark Sparvell is head of education marketing⁴ for Microsoft. He said the study’s results show that teachers believe computer science education is “in high demand” in the classroom. “Teachers see it as a priority, parents see it as a priority from previous research,” Sparvell said. “And yet, it’s in low supply.”

马克·斯帕维尔(Mark Sparvell)是微软公司的教育营销主管。他说，这项调查表明，教师群体认为计算机科学教育在课堂上需求旺盛。斯帕维尔表示：“教师们视其为重中之重。从之前的研究来看，家长群体也认为它非常重要。然而这方面的教育供给不足。”

The study found that 83 percent of teachers believe computer coding can build a student’s overall creativity.

该研究发现，83%的教师认为计算机编程可以培养学生的整体创造力。

In addition, 80 percent of educators said they believe large technology companies like Microsoft, Google and Apple should be helping⁵ schools teach students computer science skills. About 75 percent of the teachers said they were concerned that the government is not doing enough to help teachers to build these skills.

此外，80%的教育工作者表示，他们认为微软、谷歌、苹果等大型科技公司应该帮助学校给孩子教授计算机科学技能。其中约75%的教师表示，他们担忧政府在帮助教师培养这些技能方面做得不够。

Microsoft said it has expanded its cooperation with school systems in recent years to help improve computer science education.

微软公司表示，该公司近年来已经扩大了与学校系统的合作，以帮助改善计算机科学教育。

One of its programs is called TEALS, or Technology Education and Literacy in Schools. This program places trained computer science professionals in high school classrooms in the U.S. and Canada. The goal is to train teachers in computer science-related subjects.

该公司其中一个项目名为TEALS，全名是学校中的科技教育和读写能力。该项目将训练有素的计算机科学专业人员安排进了美国和加拿大的高中教室，目标是培训计算机科学相关科目的教师。

Microsoft announced last week it was providing $10 million to increase computer coding in schools. That money will go to an organization called Code.org. The not-for-profit group based in Seattle, Washington, supports expanding computer science learning in U.S. schools. The group says it especially seeks to increase interest in computer science and coding among females, minority groups and poor students.

微软公司上周宣布将提供1000万美元用于提升学校的计算机编程。这笔钱将捐给一家名为Code.org的组织。这家总部位于华盛顿州西雅图市的非营利性组织支持在美国学校扩大计算机科学的学习。该组织称其尤为寻求提高女性、少数族裔以及贫困学生对计算机科学和编程的兴趣。

The Microsoft study followed a recent announcement by Amazon. The big, online seller said that it was launching a new effort aimed at teaching more than 10 million students a year how to code.

在微软公司的这项调查之前，亚马逊公司发表了最新公告，这家大型购物网站称将推出一项新的努力，旨在每年教授超过1000万学生如何编程。

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

K-12 – adj. relating to primary and secondary education. The U.S., Canada and other countries use the term to describe publicly supported school grades before the start of college

code – v. to change information into a set of letters, numbers or symbols that can be read by a computer

underqualified – adj. not having the necessary skills, qualities of experience to do something

overwhelmed – adj. completely overcome of overpowered by thoughts or feelings

funding –n. money provided for something

priority – n. something considered very important that should be dealt with before other things

professional – n. a person who does a job that requires special training or education

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。