1. The Computing Curriculum Simon Humphreys Computing At School 28 th April 2014 simon.humphreys@computingatschool.org.uksimon.humphreys@computingatschool.org.uk, @CompAtSch

4. 1948

5. 1951

7. http://www.geekologie.com/2009/11/early-computing-childrens-new.php

8. The context

9. ICTComputer Science Maths 2002N/A28,000- 200316,0008,00056,000 ………… 201211,0004,00085,000

10. “In my vision, the child progams the computer and, in so doing 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, 1980

11. Computing At School (2008 …) Computer Science should be recognised in school as a rigorous subject discipline, like physics or history, quite distinct from the (useful) skills of digital literacy.

12. Next Gen Recommendation 1 Bring computer science into the National Curriculum as an essential discipline

13. Eric Schmidt "I was flabbergasted to learn that today computer science isn't even taught as standard in UK schools," he said. "Your IT curriculum focuses on teaching how to use software, but gives no insight into how it's made." Eric Schmidt – Edinburgh 2011

14. Michael Gove “Computer Science is a rigorous, fascinating and intellectually challenging subject … we will certainly consider including Computer Science as an option in the English Baccalaureate … Although individual technologies change … they are underpinned by foundational concepts and principles that have endured for decades … the principles learnt in Computer Science will still hold true.” Michael Gove, January 2012

15. Shutdown or Restart? Recommendation 6 The DfE should remedy the current situation, where good schools are dis-incentivised from teaching Computer Science, by reforming and rebranding the current ICT curriculum in England, Schemes of work should be established for ages 5-14 across the range of Computing aspects, e.g. digital literacy, Information Technology, and Computer Science

16. Computer Science is a discipline At school, we teach both disciplines and technologies & skills Disciplines Principles, ideas Knowledge, laws Techniques, methods Broadly applicable Dates slowly Technologies & skills Artefacts Machines Programs Products Organisations Business processes Dates quickly Physics, chemistry, mathematics, English Budgeting, presentation skills, metalwork, textiles

17. What we want instead Ideasas well astechnology Createas well asconsume Writeas well asread Understandas well asuse Knowledgerather thanmagic

18. The goal: to shift perception about computer science Geeky niche Foundational, for all What most people thinkThe reality

19. What is Computer Science? Computer Science is the study of the foundational principles and practices of computation and computational thinking, and their application in the design and development of computer systems.  A model curriculum for Computer Science has been developed by CAS. A model curriculum for Computer Science has been developed by CAS

20. What is “Computer Science”?  The study of information computation algorithms, data structures, programs communication and coordination  Skills in programing computational thinking abstraction, modelling, design

21. Look ! No computers http://csunplugged.org/sorting-networks

22. Main new thrust of the PoS  Just as every student needs to learn a bit of chemistry, even though few will become chemists, so every student should learn a bit of computer science (including some elementary programming) because they live in a digital world. “...understanding how the modern world works...” (Matthew Hancock)  From primary school onwards (like science).

23. Result  New title clearly signals a qualitative change  Computer Science added as the “fourth science” to the EBacc

24. Aims of the PoS

25. Understanding the National Curriculum Technology Enhanced Learning Computer Science Information Technology Digital literacy GCSE

26. Correct interpretation Digital literacy National Computing Curriculum Statuary document National Computing Curriculum Statuary document CS IT Subject Association Teacher guides Non- statuary document Subject Association Teacher guides Non- statuary document Information Technology Computer Science Digital literacy A School’s curriculum planning

27. Ambition  Computer science from KS1 is ambitious; eg “understand what algorithms are”.  High degree of confidence that students can understand this stuff  We cannot get there instantly; but the PoS has to last for a decade  “PoS is a minimum” (David Brown Ofsted)  Need for Teacher support and training across KS1-4 Transitional Ofsted assessment

28. What is CAS doing? Computing: a curriculum for schools Influencing national policy Directly support teachers “on the ground”

29. Background to CAS  BCS are the collaborative partner with CAS  11,100+ members (approx. 70% teachers)  103 Regional hubs  Active online community  Newsletter, events, conferences  Network of Excellence  Key stakeholder in development of curriculum  Building grassroots communities of practice

30. Community of Practice  Connect people  Provide a shared context  Enable dialogue  Stimulate learning  Capture and diffuse existing knowledge  Introduce collaborative processes  Help people organize  Generate new knowledge “A community of practice is a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or interest in a topic and who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals. CoPs often focus on sharing best practices and creating new knowledge to advance a domain of professional practice. Interaction on an ongoing basis is an important part of this.” http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/nli0531.pdf

31. Accreditation Action Research Modeling good practice Community of Practice TrainingCascade Workshops/ Training courses CAS Master Teacher/ Digital Schoolhouse model Hubs & Online forums Network of Excellence Model (from university to school to school) Model of teacher professional development in the UK

33. Regional Hubs A CAS hub is a meeting of teachers and lecturers who wish to share their ideas for developing the teaching of computing in their schools, their classrooms and their community. It is a meeting of like-minded professionals with the general objective of supporting each other and the specific aim of providing (at least) one idea that can be taken and tried in the classroom.

36. Newsletter

39. Support and empower

41. Network of Excellence Primary Master TeachersSecondary Master Teachers

42. Schools

43. Network of Excellence University faculty are central to the success of the Network. Need for both subject knowledge and pedagogical knowledge development. Encourage university colleagues to forge links with the primary and secondary schools Work with master teachers in the area design and deliver courses Training of Level 1 Master Teachers

44.  What if my school is already teaching Computer Science really well?  A Lead school means that your school will take a lead for Computer Science education in your area.  It is open to primary and secondary schools Lead school

45. Content

46. Certification  Pilot (54 teachers)  Evidence based A commitment to improving/maintaining subject knowledge and skills in Computer Science Computer Science knowledge and skills, including programming skills Understanding of and application of pedagogical strategies suitable for teaching Computer Science  Three components CPD, inc reflection and impact CS subject knowledge via project Practioner research, classroom based

47. What can you do?  Scenario 1: Your Computing/ICT department need training to deliver the new curriculum  Scenario 2: Your Computing/ICT department teachers are fairly confident that they can deliver the new curriculum  Scenario 3: Your Computing/ICT department has expertise which could support other schools

48. Scenario 1: Your Computing/ICT Staff need training 1.Teachers should join CAS (individuals) 2.Your school should join the NoE (schools) 3.Teachers should then contact their Master Teacher (contact details on CAS Online) 4.Schools will be notified about CPD opportunities (or can find them on CAS Online). 5.Teachers should attend local hub meetings to find support from other teachers 6.Teachers will need time and support to attend CPD and assimilate new skills

49. Scenario 2: Your Computing/ICT Staff are Fairly confident 1.Teachers should join CAS(as before) 2.Your school should join the NoE(as before) 3.Offer your school as a venue to a local CAS Master Teacher to run training. This will support your staff in increasing their confidence in supporting others. 4.The new CAS Certificate in Computer Science teaching can offer teachers recognition for their skills and knowledge in this new curriculum area. 5.Facilitate discussion at departmental level about curriculum change; allow time to disseminate CPD 6.Encourage an atmosphere where teachers can try out new resources and approaches ‘safely’

50. Your Computing/ICT department have expertise 1.One of your teachers could apply to become a CAS Master Teacher (next round of applications will be in the new year) 2.Your school could apply to become a Lead School 3.As a Lead School you could support other local schools, particularly primary schools in your area. 4.You could offer CPD to other local schools, in conjunction with Master Teachers. 5.Give staff time to support non-specialist staff

51. Supporting teachers in other ways  Hub meetings – there are 83 CAS Hubs who hold termly meetings after school to support staff and facilitate networking  Online MOOCS – 2 universities are offering free MOOCs as CPD  CAS Online – has a repository of 1200+ teaching resources and discussions on all topics relating to the Computing curriculum

52. Teach London Computing http://teachinglondoncomputing.org/

53. Digital Schoolhouse Computing At SchoolComputing At School and the Next Gen Skills campaign run by interactive entertainment trade body Ukie have been tasked with extending the success of the Digital Schoolhouse project currently based at Langley Grammar School, Slough, to help 10 London secondary schools develop Digital Schoolhouse satellite schools to support this curriculum change by providing teacher training and improve links between primary and secondary schools.Next Gen Skills campaignUkieDigital Schoolhouse project

54. Challenge #1 Introduce a new subject discipline, computer science, to the UK education system, starting from a near-zero base

55. Challenge #2 Equip, support, affirm, encourage our ICT teachers to teach computer science

56. Discussion points  What do you know about the CPD being offered to teachers in your area?  If there are gaps, what are they?  How could you contribute locally to support the CAS Network of Excellence? It’s not enough to hope that someone else will do it. We have to. There is no “them”. There is only us.