Hi, I’m Mike Deutsch, an educator and researcher in K-12 Computing Education.
Here’s my story.
I was a computer-crazy kid in the 1980s, when home computers were just becoming a thing. I followed the path toward a CS degree, and then I fell out of love. I hit a wall, and I never became a “real” programmer. Years went by and I got good at other things.
After a career around and near technology and education, I’ve circled back to help reshape the way coding is taught.
In a field where pedagogy often takes a back seat to novelty, I use research and proven practices to make K-12 computational thinking and coding more open, understandable, and authentic.
Them: Let’s reach everyone!
Me: As long as we reach everyone.
There are many people working to create access to computing education. I come in once that access is established.
I try to ensure that, once coding is in the room, everyone gets a real chance to belong: they have ideas, they build skills, they feel competent. This is my way of helping to increase the diversity of perspectives, skills, and cultures that sustain the digital world.
Find me elsewhere online:
- LinkedIn: Mike Deutsch
- Twitter/X: @mdeutschmtl
- MA student in McGill University’s Science & Math Education Research Group;
- Former learning director at education charity Digital Moment (née Kids Code Jeunesse).