Coding in KS3 & 4

[TerryTibbs]

I'm really sorry, I know this isn't the right forum, but Edugeeks have been so helpful before I thought I'd give it a go.... I'm not a geek I'm a school governor. ICT at our school is pathetic - it based on the OCR board and it's dull, the course materials are laughable and there's more or less no opportunity to learn to code. It turns many more students off computing than interests. I feel that it should not be even leading edge to teach code at KS3 & 4 but the ICT staff are utterly resistant. Does anyone know where coding is being well taught in secondary school? What examination boards are used?
Thanks for any pointers.

[LosOjos]

I can understand why you're getting resistance to this, chances are the majority of IT teachers do not know how to code, if they have to teach students, they have to learn themselves, hence the resistance....

Sorry I can't be of any more help than that

[srochford]

Programming was pretty much taken out of all GCSE qualifications a good few years ago but there are moves to bring it back. A quick search finds that OCR are offering a new GCSE which does involve programming - OCR > Qualifications > By type > GCSE (from 2010) > ICT and Technology > Computing (Pilot) It's a pilot at the moment but I think anyone can be entered for it.

As @LosOjos says, most teachers can't do programming (most people can't do programming and that includes quite a few people who are paid to do it!) so I suspect it won't get a huge take up.

I got into IT because 35 years ago (!!!) I had to do some programming as part of my degree and found the whole thing absolutely fascinating. Sadly, this isn't true for most people - they just can't understand even the basics of programming. I doubt that you can change this; it's a bit like the fact that most people can't paint or compose music - I'd guess the brain is either wired that way or it isn't!

[SimpleSi]

In KS4 - teachers jobs are on the line to get GCSE results so you can't expect/want them to do anything else except get the pupils the highest grades in ICT.

However, you might try pushing the teachers to learn and teach pupils how to learn programming in Scratch in KS3.

If you can't get them to do that, then there's no chance of doing anything more.

regards

Simon

[GrumbleDook]

Hi Terry

I can't remember whether you had been on Computing at School :: Computing For the Next Generation ... or not ... the folk over there can give you a mountain of advice, sample lessons, advice on particular exam bodies.

[TerryTibbs]

Thanks very much for the OCR and Computing at School tips - both really useful.