The Effect of COVID-19 on High School Computer Science Growth in Alberta
Abstract: Computer Science (CS) is an emerging subject area in education worldwide. In Alberta, Canada, CS programs had rapidly grown (average annual growth rate of 33.5%) in the decade prior to COVID-19. This paper explores the immediate impact of the COVID pandemic on CS education in Alberta. As part of a larger study (McCashin et al., 2022), student course records were obtained for students taking CS courses in Alberta from 2009-2021. Course records were analyzed for growth trends in decade leading up to the COVID pandemic and in the subsequent years as the pandemic shifted learning more towards online delivery. Though program growth rates have diminished somewhat during COVID, CS growth has remained positive over the last two pandemic years and showed signs of healthy revival. Understanding the impact of major global disruptive events on an emerging area of study is critical for the continued development of this subject in Alberta. Trends analyzed here are valuable for safeguarding existing CS programs and in the coming expansion of CS education in Alberta K-12 education.