Computing: a curriculum for schols
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Transcript of Computing: a curriculum for schols
COMPUTING: A CURRICULUM FOR SCHOLS
Simon Peyton JonesMicrosoft
CAS teachers conference, July 2011
What is education for
Education should prepare young people for
a world that don’t yet exist, requiring technologies that have not yet been invented,
to solve problems of which we are not yet aware.
What’s wrong?
Teach them how to fish (don’t give them fishes)
Teach disciplines as well as skills
• Principles, ideas• Knowledge, laws• Techniques,
methods• Broadly applicable• Dates slowly
• Technology, artefacts• Machines• Programs• Products• Organisations• Business processes• Dates quickly
Physics, chemistry, mathematics,
English
Budgeting, presentation skills, metalwork,
textiles
What’s wrong?
• Principles• Ideas• Laws• Broadly applicable• But needs application• Dates slowly
• Spreadsheets• Databases• Powerpoint• Using the web• Safety on the internet• Plan communication projects• Analysing and automating
processes • Dates quickly
ICT(technology focused)
Dominant
Computing(discipline)
Barely taught
Range of 14+ different KS4 qualifications
No KS4 qualification at all [OCR piloting Computing
GCSE in 2010/11]
Need to tell ourselves
Need to tell our head teachers
Need to tell DfE
Need to tell ministers
If we say Computing is a discipline,
we have to say what it is
“Is there a core body of knowledge for Computing that doesn’t change from year to
year?” DfE offical, June 2011
Computing: a curriculum for schools
A working party of 11 people: incl teachers, universities, exam boards
You have seen at least two drafts
The “final version” has landed. Today.
(It’s not really final, of course.)
http://www.computingatschool.org.uk(follow the “Resources” link)
What’s in it?The same structure as NC Programmes of Study
(but in more detail)1. Importance of the subject
2. Key concepts
3. Key processes (what students should be able to do)
4. Range and content (what students should know)
5. Level descriptors
Total 22 pages.
General aims
Focus on fundamentalsNot much change year to yearNot much about Facebook, YouTube, mobile
phones
Focus on what the subject is, not how it should be taughtYou add the “how”
Focus on KS3 and KS4. We plan to add KS1 and KS2 in the next few months.
Ambitious but do-able
What next?
Computing: a curriculum for schools
Influencing national policy
Developing teaching material to support
delivering the curriculum
Nationally... the ice is cracking Focusing on the discipline of Computing is
completely in tune with ministers’ stress on fundamentals:
CAS is now beginning to get visibility at national level
Having a curriculum increases our credibility and influence a great deal
“Indeed the whole thrust of the new science curriculum – which aims to empower students to be “consumers of science” and which concentrates on engaging students in debate about GM
foods or climate change – is a shift away from preparing students to be scientists.” Michael Gove, Reform 2008
“Too much focus on user skills, and not enough on fundamentals and conceptual understanding.” Nick Gibb, Employers
consultation meeting June 2011
What next?
Computing: a curriculum for schools
Influencing national policy
Developing teaching material to support
delivering the curriculum
We need lots of material,to support teaching and learningof computingin the classroom
You are the leaders. You are here, enthusiastic, walking the walk.
Will you help others to do the same?
In the end, all of this will be a waste of time
unless you teach it