Post by apinnock on Jan 28, 2014 17:34:20 GMT
Computer Science and Programming at KS1 and KS2
Some aspects of the new Computing curriculum will already be familiar to most teachers (use of information technology, for example), but there is a new emphasis on Computer Science and programming which will be new to most teachers.
If we want all children in all primary schools in this country to receive effective and appropriate education in Computer Science and in programming then what we ideally need to have in every school is, at least:
• a Head Teacher who is keen to support Computer Science and programming in their school, has a good understanding of the role of the subject in the curriculum as a whole, and is willing to provide the resources, training and support necessary to enable the school to embrace new technology and to deliver Computing effectively and creatively to all pupils
• All teachers have a good understanding of the basics of Computer Science enthusiastic and a practical interest in programming; all teachers are well trained and well prepared to teach the subject and to apply it across the curriculum
• Information Technology resources (a wide range of hardware and software) which are up to date, age-appropriate and fully sufficient
• Well thought-out schemes of work which allow programming to be delivered in a flexible way which accommodates the widely varying abilities and skills of the children and allows them to develop at their own (sometimes very rapid) pace. Note that the new Computing curriculum does not specify the scheme of work - schools are expected to develop their own way of delivering the curriculum.
• A suitable means of assessment
Some of the main actions which follow from this are to:
• make Computing a high priority in schools
• help teachers to become confident and competent programmers
• adapt the whole primary curriculum to accommodate the demands of programming
• introduce more and better hardware and in schools
• introduce more and better software in schools
• encourage the delivery of programming through independent and collaborative learning
• identify appropriate ways of assessing progress
In my opinion, this won’t all happen by September 2014 in more than a handful of exceptional schools. (See this recent article for an example of innovative practice: )
If the majority of schools are likely to struggle to be ready to introduce the teaching of programming in September this year, what is the best approach for schools to take now to ensure that children will benefit from a reasonable standard of programming tuition from September?
To see some possible answers, follow the links to related threads under 'Thread Summary' below ....
Some aspects of the new Computing curriculum will already be familiar to most teachers (use of information technology, for example), but there is a new emphasis on Computer Science and programming which will be new to most teachers.
If we want all children in all primary schools in this country to receive effective and appropriate education in Computer Science and in programming then what we ideally need to have in every school is, at least:
• a Head Teacher who is keen to support Computer Science and programming in their school, has a good understanding of the role of the subject in the curriculum as a whole, and is willing to provide the resources, training and support necessary to enable the school to embrace new technology and to deliver Computing effectively and creatively to all pupils
• All teachers have a good understanding of the basics of Computer Science enthusiastic and a practical interest in programming; all teachers are well trained and well prepared to teach the subject and to apply it across the curriculum
• Information Technology resources (a wide range of hardware and software) which are up to date, age-appropriate and fully sufficient
• Well thought-out schemes of work which allow programming to be delivered in a flexible way which accommodates the widely varying abilities and skills of the children and allows them to develop at their own (sometimes very rapid) pace. Note that the new Computing curriculum does not specify the scheme of work - schools are expected to develop their own way of delivering the curriculum.
• A suitable means of assessment
Some of the main actions which follow from this are to:
• make Computing a high priority in schools
• help teachers to become confident and competent programmers
• adapt the whole primary curriculum to accommodate the demands of programming
• introduce more and better hardware and in schools
• introduce more and better software in schools
• encourage the delivery of programming through independent and collaborative learning
• identify appropriate ways of assessing progress
In my opinion, this won’t all happen by September 2014 in more than a handful of exceptional schools. (See this recent article for an example of innovative practice: )
If the majority of schools are likely to struggle to be ready to introduce the teaching of programming in September this year, what is the best approach for schools to take now to ensure that children will benefit from a reasonable standard of programming tuition from September?
To see some possible answers, follow the links to related threads under 'Thread Summary' below ....