--- Colin McQueen <cmcqueen@mcqueen.uk.net> wrote:
Hi
Interesting debate
"Grainge, Derek" <DGG@wellington-college.berks.sch.uk> wrote:
Sadly, programming isn't on the agenda in any part of the national curriculum in UK school - unless you do A-level Computing as opposed to ICT - which means Computing is therefore the preserve of geekdom in schools.
There is a little in the KS3 Strategy sample teaching units 7.6, 8.5 and the year 9 case studies.
When I was in infant school, I did LOGO as a programming exercise. As a result of that, I am now doing a BSC(Hons) Software Engineering. I cannot help but marvel at the end product of how I managed to think about: repeat 4 [fd 90 rt 90]
<snip>
National Curriculum and GCSE ICT make me sad in many ways: the former is largely tick-list mentality (can he do bold, can he do italic?)
Absolutely not! Many teachers fall back on this because to nteach and assess capability is harder and needs someone who themselves is capable. But the drive is NOT to tick off skills. As a Key Stage 3 Consultant for Hampshire LEA I can guarauntee you that schools that accept the ICT support available will be coaching ICT staff away from skills tick lists to a greater depth of knowledge and understanding. An example of this can be seen in the push of really understanding the difference between bitmap and vector graphics and the consequences for online learning. Another is in the recent web technologies training that teaches the advantages and disadvantages of using a text editor, word processor and HTML editor for making web pages.
One of the problems here though is that there is no standardising of *how* and what we are taught computer-wise in schools. [..snip shite..] -- Thomas Adam ===== "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- http://linuxgazette.net "TAG Editor" -- http://linuxgazette.net ________________________________________________________________________ Download Yahoo! Messenger now for a chance to win Live At Knebworth DVDs http://www.yahoo.co.uk/robbiewilliams