#TeacherDevelopment

The Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando highlighted a global challenge: making computer science accessible to every student and educator. With more than 9,000 participants, experts discussed how block-based programming can level the field for young learners and non-expert teachers. For Thailand, where digital transformation is accelerating, these insights resonate with efforts to bridge urban–rural gaps in classrooms.

Computer science education is becoming essential worldwide, shaping both economies and daily life through digital literacy. In Thailand, the government’s long-range Strategic Plan aims to overhaul curricula so students acquire future-ready skills. Yet barriers remain, including language, teacher training, and infrastructure, especially outside big cities. Data from Thailand’s education sector shows ongoing gaps in resource distribution and access.

The Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando this year spotlighted one of the most pressing challenges in global education: making computer science accessible for every student and teacher. With more than 9,000 participants from around the world, experts at the event—including the director of computer science education for an international robotics firm—discussed how tools like block-based programming are leveling the playing field for young learners and non-expert educators alike. For Thailand, where the push for digital transformation is accelerating, these developments resonate strongly with efforts to bridge digital divides across urban and rural classrooms.

A wave of educational innovation is making coding more accessible for Thai students and teachers. At the 2025 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando, experts discussed block-based programming and a teaching shift that could narrow Thailand’s digital divide and inspire future coders.

Global recognition of computer science as a core future skill highlights a common hurdle for Thai classrooms: English-based coding languages, limited resources, and a shortage of trained teachers. Block-based programming lets learners snap together visual blocks to create programs, bypassing complex syntax. A senior leader in computer science education notes that block-based tools support learning in students’ local languages and reduce language barriers. When traditional languages like Pascal, C++, or Python are used, much of the coding environment relies on English; block-based approaches can enable Thai, Malay, or other languages, helping students say, “I can program,” much sooner.