An internal presentation to school administration advocating for curriculum reform incorporating a requirement for Computer Science for all students K-12
The International Community School of
Addis Ababa, accredited in the United
States, develops the talents and
intellects of a multicultural student body
using learner-centered, holistic
instructional methods, empowering
instructional methods, empowering
each student to contribute inin an
each student to contribute an
evolving world.
evolving world.
Vision:
ICS will become a premier international
school in Africa offering a 21st century
learning environment.
“ICT simply teaches (students) how to use technology
but gives them no insight on how to create
technology.
In essence we teach our
children how to ‘read’, but not
how to ‘write’.”
Ian Livingstone
The Independent
How to learn to “write” with
technology:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgicuytCkoY
Douglas Rushkoff on “Program or Be Programmed”
published by O/R Books
http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/program/
“In many schools today, the phrase 'computer-aided instruction'
means making the computer teach the child.
One might say the computer is being used to program the child.
In my vision, the child programs the
computer and, in doing so, both acquires a
sense of mastery over a piece of the most
modern and powerful technology and
establishes an intimate contact with some of
the deepest ideas from science, from
mathematics, and from the art of intellectual
model building.”
Seymour Papert, Mindstorms
1980
“Teaching computer science isn’t simply about
learning to program. It’s about computational
thinking, logic, reasoning, and problem solving too.
These skills are imperative to what K-12 students
should be learning.”
Audrey Waters, Mindshift
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/12/should-computer-science-be-required-in-k-12/
USNews Money: Best Jobs 2012
All of our Best Jobs of 2012 are outstanding, but the top 25 make for a particularly great career
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1. Registered Nurse
2. Software Developer
3. Pharmacist
4. Medical Assistant
5. Database Administrator
6. Web Developer
7. Computer Systems Analyst
8. Physical Therapist
9. Computer Programmer
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-25-best-jobs
Curriculum
(informed by UK, US, Canada & NZ curricula – actual & proposed)
● digital literacy
● basic skills
● taught and reinforced by all teachers
● Information Technology (IT)
● use of technology to accomplish tasks
● taught and reinforced in all subjects
● specifically addressed by Technology Integrators
● Computer Science (CS)
● separate discipline
● taught by Computing teachers
Computational Thinking (CT)
● A way to think + analyze + problem-solve
● Problem solving
● Debugging
● Modeling, systems thinking
● Automating solutions through algorithms
● Explicit teaching
● Computing teachers responsible
● Technology Integrators reinforce
● Implicit adoption
● integrated lessons
● aligned with HoM, Learner Profile
Elementary School
● Weekly Computing classes
● Computing teachers teach CS & CT skills
● Computing teachers teach & reinforce IT skills
● digital literacy throughout
● Integrated lessons
● Coaches teach IT skills – to students & teachers
● Coaches assist subject teachers with integrating IT
and digital literacy skills into lessons
Middle School
● Computing classes
● Classes to teach CS & CT skills
– Game programming
– Web design (HTML)
– Robotics
● digital literacy throughout
● Integrated lessons
● Coaches teach IT skills – to students & teachers
● Coaches assist subject teachers with integrating IT and
digital literacy skills into lessons
High School
● Computing classes
● Classes to teach CS & CT skills
– Game programming
– Web design (HTML)
– Robotics
– IB Computer Science
● digital literacy throughout
● Integrated lessons
● Coaches teach IT skills – to students & teachers
● Coaches assist subject teachers with integrating IT
and digital literacy skills into lessons
Requirements
● Elementary School
● All students take Computing classes
● Middle School
● All students required to take one semester
Computing class to move on to HS
● High School
● All students required to take one semester
Computing class to graduate from ICS
Staffing Needs
● Elementary School
● Existing structure sufficient
● 2 full time teachers/integrators
● Middle School
● Need for 4 semester classes per year
● Current position needs expanding by 20%
● High School
● Need minimum 3 semester classes per year
● Need additional 20% position – can be deferred 1 year
● IB Diploma CS class – will need staffing when offered
Costs:
* Commitment from ICS Administration
* Expectations for all teachers: digital
literacy
* Additional staffing needs
Benefits:
* Better meet ICS' mission: empower
students to contribute in evolving world
* Help reach ICS' vision: premier 21st
century international school in Africa
CREDITS
Web Quotations
●
Livingstone, Ian. ""Teaching Our Children How to 'read' and 'write' - the Case for Computer Science"" The
Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 13 Dec. 2012.
<http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/teaching-our-children-to-read-and-write--the-case-for-
computer-science-8218808.html>.
●
Stross, Randall. “Computer Science for Non-Majors Takes Many Forms.” New York Times 31 Mar. 2012.
Web. 1 Apr. 2012. <
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/business/computer-science-for-non-majors-takes-many-forms.html>
●
Waters, Audrey. “Should Computer Science Be Required in K-12?” Mindshift 15 Dec. 2011. Web. 16 Dec.
2011. <http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/12/should-computer-science-be-required-in-k-12/>.
Website screenshots
•
http://dmlcentral.net/blog/cathy-davidson/why-we-need-4th-r-reading-writing-arithmetic-algorithms
•
http://hackeducation.com/2012/11/27/top-ed-tech-trends-of-2012-learning-to-code/
•
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/04/03/computer-science-transitions-from-elective
•
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maggie-johnson/common-core-standards_b_2258882.html
•
http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Time-to-make-computer-science-part-of-schools-4100712.php
•
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/mar/31/why-kids-should-be-taught-code
•
http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240173959/Vint-Cerf-urges-computer-science-to-be-included-in-EBacc
•
http://www.education.gov.uk/a00201864/harmful-ict-curriculum-set-to-be-dropped-this-september-to-make-way