Computing in the Irish Curriculum – Open Space at Conference 2017
Richard Millwood,
In advance of the CESI symposium at Maynooth on September 16th 2017, this blog post reports some of the issues that came up at CESI conference in March 2017.
The session ‘Computing in the Irish Curriculum’ offered participants the opportunity to propose their issues for discussion on this theme, stimulated by the news that a Leaving Certificate in Computer Science was coming, a coding module at Junior Certificate was in development and moves to address coding at primary level were also being made. Approximately forty took part during the hour, debating in groups that were self-forming, self-chairing, and self-reporting.
The facilitators, Richard Millwood, Mags Amond, Nina Bresnihan and John Hegarty were a combination of CESI Executive members and the Computational Thinking for Life group at Trinity College Dublin, but it was the knowledge of the participants in the room that provided the content for the session.
The issues debated were mapped on to whiteboards, reported back to the whole group and are summarised here:
Who is going to teach Computer Science?
Other countries?
AP (Advanced Placement) in US – CS is one year in uni
Germany – coursework & ?
Similar to Art, Tech subjects, Engineering, Home Economics
Who teaches it? Of CS graduates, only 3%-5% would go to a Professional Masters in Education course – salary!
Teaching Council recognition: CS degree not recognised.
Can we do the same as the Maths ‘top-up’ in UL
Who does or leads the CPD?
Pilot in 2018
Continuing Professional Development for teachers
Provide CPD to existing teachers, teachers with an interest
Quality CPD
Management buy in in €
Long term plan commitment
Should CS be worth more in points?
Support from Institutes of Technology and Universities
Teacher buy in
Correct support
Training aligned to subject content – eg parallel processors
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