Computing Curriculum Masterclass - secondary focus

Sue Sentance, Computing At School

Dan Gardner, Perins School, Hants

Zoe Ross, Yorston Lodge School, Cheshire

Our session today

Sue – background to Computing curriculum

Dan – experience of a teacher in implementing the curriculum

Zoe – audience participation!

Frequently asked questions!!

How did Computing come to be in the curriculum?

Why is Computing important?

What do I need to teach?

Who are Computing at School?

What help is out there for me?

How did Computing come to replace ICT in

the national curriculum?

Curriculum Change … the Milestones

2013 2012 2011

Why is this emphasis on Computer Science

important?

1. Computer Science is a discipline

Teach disciplines as well as skills

Disciplines • Principles, ideas • Knowledge, laws • Techniques, methods • Broadly applicable • Dates slowly

Skills • Technology, artefacts • Machines • Programs • Products • Organisations • Business processes • Dates quickly

Physics, chemistry, mathematics, English

Budgeting, presentation skills, metalwork, textiles

2. Computational thinking skills are generic

Can you decompose a task into sub-tasks?

Can you recognise patterns and then make generalisations?

Can you abstract out the important elements of a situation to understand it? (wood and trees)

Can you apply logic to problem solving?

3. Consumers or creators?

4 Economic need

A recent UKCES report (Sept 2013) identified:

“The digital sector will require nearly 300,000 new recruits by 2020 to maximise its full potential. New roles will be created that will require both deeper and more specialised technical IT skills…at present, a lack of specialist technical skills are hampering growth in the sector”

What do I need to teach??

Computer Science in the Computing curriculum

What students should be able to do: computational thinking, abstraction, modelling, design, problem solving, programming.

What students should know: languages, algorithms, data structures and representation, architecture, programs, communication and coordination.

New Computing programme of study

Who are Computing At School?

How CAS started

If we get together, perhaps we can get

something done

CAS Membership

CAS Regional Hubs

Who belongs to CAS?

Teachers

IT Professionals

Academics

Local authority representative

…

“There is no THEM, only US!”

What help is out there for me?

Support from CAS & Others

CAS Hubs – networking/support

CAS Master teachers – training

CAS Online – discussion/events

Resources – 1000+ shared on CAS Online

MOOCs – UEA and Warwick

Universities running training events

Who else?

Apps for Good

cs4fn

Code Club

Young Rewired State

NextGen skills

campaign

Raspberry Pi

… and many more …..

CS Unplugged

To join CAS go to http://computingatschool.org.uk