Schools are catching onto tech’s playbook
Summary
Lauren Feiner interviews NYT reporter Natasha Singer about her book *Coding Kids*, which traces the history of tech companies pushing computer science curricula into US schools. The discussion contrasts Code.org’s viral, startup-driven approach with academic efforts to broaden CS participation, highlighting how industry influence shaped education policy. Singer argues that while tech giants now pivot to AI, schools lack rigorous evidence that these tools improve learning outcomes. The episode explores the concept of "deep lobbying" and questions whether prioritizing efficiency over critical…
Topics discussed
Intro: Code.org vs. academic CS efforts
90 Seconds on The Verge: AI and tech news
Sponsor reads: Indeed and Uber Eats
History of tech in schools: Edison to Google
Evidence on whether tech improves learning
Code.org's viral launch and startup strategy
Hour of Code and scaling CS in schools
Academic approach: AP CS Principles creation
College Board approval of tech company curricula
Critique: Tech influence vs. medical industry
Sponsor reads: Cisco, Square, Indeed, Uber Eats
Deep lobbying and tech funding of nonprofits
Efficiency vs. learning: The purpose of school
The pivot to AI and impact on CS students
Outlook: Teacher optimism and human-driven AI
Outro and final sponsor reads
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