After Michael Gove’s speech at BETT last year I wrote my first ever Guardian Teacher Network article, entitled Is Gove washing his hands of ICT. Just over a year later, it’s clear that Gove has indeed washed his hands of the topic that myself and my students love. ICT was rebranded as computing. Back in May, I asked the question ‘Is it time to rebrand ICT’, changing it to computing was not what I had in mind. i used to be hoping for something more progressive. The change came as a surprise to me and lots of other ICT teachers. Especially, in view that the draft programme of research (POS) back in November was still called ICT.
So, why am I so upset concerning the announcement
Firstly, i want to claim that i’m completely in favour of educating computing. i’ve been actively adding increasingly computing into my curriculum for several years. In my current curriculum I teach programming, internal computer components in addition to computing history. This can be further developed next year. As is the case with all good teachers, my curriculum is evolving forever. However, what you will see is that it runs alongside ICT.
The current draft POS, is an actual let all the way down to ICT teachers and their students around the country. There must be room for both computing and ICT. In truth I firmly believe that we’re robbing our students, if the present draft stays the way it is. Obviously, computer scientists will almost certainly disagree with me. But isn’t it our job as educators to organize all students for the digital world they’re living in I actually have taught students of all abilities in both comprehensive and independent schools. It can be safe to claim that i believe it can help ‘some’ who eventually enter a career in computer science, but will hinder many more after they realise they may be being taught things which are of little relevance to them. It is very important get the balance right. It is necessary to not restrict our student’s digital education. Let’s improve the ICT curriculum, but let’s imagine the scholars and never pander to lobbying from outside interests.
There can also be a worry that there’ll not be enough curriculum time to deliver the recent KS3 POS. Will schools start taking time from maths, English and science Obviously not, how can they Did those fighting for this variation reflect on this Did they even care about it People who find themselves not teachers or don’t work in education rarely think of this stuff. Not once they have their very own agenda to consider.
Perhaps the foremost potent and universally recognised issue with the change to computing is training. There are literally thousands of ICT teachers who would require CPD in the event that they are to deliver the brand new programme of analysis. The govt. goes to supply free training to current teachers and schools might want to unencumber time to permit this to happen. Then there are our future ‘computing’ teachers. Will the govt manage to recruit enough teachers in order to actually teach this new curriculum Because the UK is currently facing a shortfall in computer science teachers, where will this leave the topic over the following few years i believe, in limbo. Maybe all those non-teachers, pushing for the change, should quit their jobs to become computing teachers.
I suspect, if the draft stays because it is, we can see a fallout in numerous years time. My prediction will be that almost all of scholars leaving schools usually are not equipped for many workplaces. What number employers will care if their employees can:
“…explain how data of varied types could be represented and manipulated within the type of binary digits including numbers, text, sounds and photographs, and have the ability to perform such manipulation by hand.” – Extract from the hot KS3 POS.
So what would i am keen on to see
I want to see a brand new POS that offers students a rounded digital education. In the present day there’s just a tip of the hat to ICT. This isn’t right. It’s going to include equal parts of digital literacy, digital citizenship, digital creativity and computing. Lets not forget who’re crucial people on this educational conundrum. A curriculum at KS3 this is too heavily weighted to computing is doing our kids a disservice and maybe may also put them off pursuing it at KS4 and 5.
There are plenty of ICT teachers doing exciting and innovative things. I attended the RethinkingICT conference last year and it was inspiring for all who attended. Such a lot of ideas, a lot to go looking forward to.
What has transpired recently is that scholars and teachers had been overlooked, in favour of what i think, to be private interest. i think personally betrayed by this transformation, remember this comes from someone who sees the worth of computing and believes it’s a significant section of ICT. For my part the changes are myopic and done for the incorrect reasons.
i’m hoping that Mr Gove thinks again. I hope that the ultimate version of the POS takes my article and the swathe of dissenting voices under consideration. i’m hoping it does the proper thing for the children of this country.
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