SimpleSi Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 BBC News - School ICT to be replaced by computer science programme Yippee Si
hit Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 "Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," Great, still not business use to be able to animate a game in flash, but it's definitely got to be an improvement to the current curriculum. Good IT teachers (Mrs HIT included) are already teaching some annimation programming (like flash, html, scratch) to students because the current curriculum is so dull!
Jamoire Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Fantastic step forward and about time!, although I will wait untill the details are released before I get too excited.
NikChillin Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 We have been doing this for years now but there is always a problem recruiting the staff.
JJonas Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 "Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say. So are we talking Scratch here? 1
rad Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London Really, so when did the BETT show start... today I thought. Do they have press confrences on the Tuesday?
X-13 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110821022547/callofduty/images/e/e0/14381-fluttershy-yay.jpg 1
Davit2005 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) We have been doing this for years now but there is always a problem recruiting the staff. Yep, it is hard/impossible to force staff to learn/teach a new computer science if they don't want too or not interested. I think we are quite lucky here with the range of IT that gets taught. Older students (years 5 to 8) get a whole range of stuff including, robots, flow programming, VBA programming along with the usual Office apps and Media (Video,Music,Photo) work. While younger students (upto year 5) deal mostly with Basic Office apps and computer use. Basic computer use is still important, i.e. file naming, organising folders etc. Edited January 11, 2012 by Davit2005
sonofsanta Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Really, so when did the BETT show start... today I thought. Do they have press confrences on the Tuesday? The full quote is "Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans" (emphasis mine) which is future tense; obviously he just put out a press release to announce the announcement. As you do in this modern marketing age. I'm cautiously optimistic at the announcement, and pleasantly shocked, which is about the top of the scale when it comes to reactions-to-politicians for me these days. The only bit that concerns me is "The subject will be replaced by compulsory lessons in more rigorous computer science and programming" because that risks going too far the other way - capable kids are bored now because they can do so much more, but programming is not for everyone, and forcing it on some kids is going to disengage them because they can't cope. Some parts need to be core, certainly, and an introduction to programming would be great as part of that, but making it compulsory for all is going to mean there is a lowest common denominator that has to be catered to and will still hold the best kids back in the majority of places. 1
localzuk Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Its all kind of a moot point anyway - academies can set their own curriculum. So, whatever the government says, academies can ignore. 1
mthomas08 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Although I agree a little bit of program knowledge is good, how many kids these days actually need to know this stuff compared to some one who uses office apps? In my job I have done a bit of coding but because most of the work is done through GUI's then I have rarely needed to know, but even though I am IT Support I still end up having to use Office Apps often. In fact with more and more lessons becoming IT Based surely there is more need to learn word compared to programming? Oh well if things change this way then I look forward to it being scrapped in two years time. 2
localzuk Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 The thing is, Office and the like will still be taught, regardless of whether it is in the curriculum as a discreet subject. It will simply get rolled into other areas such as English for word processing, Science for data logging/modelling in spreadsheets etc... The point isn't about 'giving them business skills' here, they get them by doing a subject such as 'Business Studies' or through normal use of the software. It is about investing in our technology sectors in the country. High-Tech is a massively growing market, and as such it needs people to innovate, it needs new blood who know what they're doing. What better way of filling that need than by ensuring the children in our schools are getting a grounding in the relevant subject at an early age? You don't have similar subjects in schools where you get taught other tools. There isn't a 'table top drill' curriculum, its included in DT. There isn't a ruler curriculum, it is just part of maths. ICT isn't a proper subject on its own in my view, but computing is. The UK used to be the world leaders in computing. Everything from desktop machines to games were best from the UK. Now look at us. What game makers we have are mostly just offices of world (read USA) owned companies. Our hardware makers are box shifters. 1
mthomas08 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 That's fine then, I was under the impression they were just totally scrapping it. Just thought it was crazy, I could write a long list of jobs (even teaching) that use word processing, powerpoints etc.
dave.81 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 I have to agree that this is too much the other way. We dropped computing from our curriculum 11 years ago as the students were not interested. I could list 5 kids max who are slightly interested in the coding the rest as long as they know how to "google" are happy. This will put even more students off it in the end. The teacher who helps our students do their UCAS app's is being told that Uni's prefer students who have not been taught any programming either. We are in discussion about dropping IT GCSE completely and not teaching IT beyond the 3rd form.
localzuk Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 That's fine then, I was under the impression they were just totally scrapping it. Just thought it was crazy, I could write a long list of jobs (even teaching) that use word processing, powerpoints etc. It is being scrapped, yes, but other subjects will still use those tools and therefore will need to include some teaching on how to do so. But rather than spending 6 weeks being taught how to use powerpoint, the student will be spending 6 weeks creating a presentation and being given guidance when they can't do something. Also, computing isn't *just* programming. It is far more than that. It is about understanding how computers work, rather than just using them. If the subject is being taught badly, or in a dry way, then that's the fault of the teachers and the school. The subject can be taught in a fun way, just like most things can, it just needs people to teach it that way.
X-13 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 The teacher who helps our students do their UCAS app's is being told that Uni's prefer students who have not been taught any programming either. That makes no sense... Even if you ignore the fact they've got a new skill, programming teaches a different way of thinking and problem solving. Why would Universities want people with little/no problem solving skills other than google and relying on other people... Plus, programming is hard [YMMV], so it shows they're smart if they can code properly. 1
BatchFile Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) I actually punched the air when I read that article.... (Though I can see I may have to go back on to the timetable to teach some of it - I don't think our ICT staff will be 100% comfortable with it:eek:) Edited January 11, 2012 by BatchFile rephrased in case ICT staff read this!
sonofsanta Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 That makes no sense... Even if you ignore the fact they've got a new skill, programming teaches a different way of thinking and problem solving. Why would Universities want people with little/no problem solving skills other than google and relying on other people... Plus, programming is hard [YMMV], so it shows they're smart if they can code properly. I think some Unis would prefer students not to come to them with bad habits, and would prefer to mould them in their own ideal from day one. I know that getting an accounting degree is often a bad way to get a job in accounting, for example, as you aren't taught the company's methods. This perception may be related to the way ICT has been taught in the past, though, so hopefully will improve as the curriculum & level of teaching does.
X-13 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 I think some Unis would prefer students not to come to them with bad habits, and would prefer to mould them in their own ideal from day one. I know that getting an accounting degree is often a bad way to get a job in accounting, for example, as you aren't taught the company's methods. That stupid... Regardless of where you go, SOMEONE is going to think you're doing it wrong. Coders need their own style of coding. Like a signature of sorts. 1
kernewek-sam Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 It's going to be interesting to see what is included in this new computing curriculum, once the consultation is over.
mthomas08 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Well I still don't agree with this but if it works then good, if it improves the students ability to use computers and doesnt degrade what they learn then congratulations the government has actually done something right. If it doesn't work then I will be there to say "I told you so". I will also add, I did Business NVQ 2 and we learnt how to do letters correctly, data protection act (confidential info) not use word processor/powerpoint/excel etc. Then again this was back .... 11-12 years ago... showing my age.
dave.81 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 I believe the conversation was that they preferred students to have done maths and physics than doing any type of computing so they didn't have eliminate all the bad habits that teachers have taught. I dont think being able to programme is a sign of being clever, it is about being accurate with what you are doing and being logical. The handful of students here who have shown any interest are by far not the most clever ones we have!
korifugi Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Okay - while this is a good thing, after all the curriculum should evolve with the changing world (and requirements therein), IT skills will still need to be taught. Sadly, at the moment, too many times I have seen ICT being taught by effectively whichever teachers 'put their hands up', and the IT skills of some staff leave a whole lot to be desired. Due to the width of it's use - IT should really be taught across the board, but not in the way of all sitting there following the boring instructions of whichever member of staff drew the short straw and has to teach "Word". Perhaps a little Word processor use in English, or indeed any time that the students are required to write on the computer, a little spreadsheet use in Maths, etc, etc. ICT lessons, unless actually doing something 'fun' have always seen to be (and lets face it, have), been boring. To be honest, aside from the more in-depth stuff - ICT lessons should be mostly a thing of the past, with the skills required being assimilated into other subjects. Okay, doing things that way will create a large amount of unhappy staff - as many of the staff that (to their own admittance) "Aren't very good with computers" are either scared of them, confused, don't really want to learn or are a combination of all three. For IT skills to be taught universally, then ALL teaching staff will need to be at a set baseline level. (with apologies to all ICT teaching staff that are members of an ICT Teaching Department)
zag Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Brilliant news! Although it has been nice seeing all the young teachers coming through with good Microsoft office skills
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now