School ICT to be replaced by computer science programme

Guy Incognito · 11th January 2012, 16:56

Quote:

The current information and communications technology (ICT) curriculum in England's schools is a "mess" and must be radically revamped, the education secretary has announced.

From September it will be replaced by a flexible curriculum in computer science and programming, designed with the help of universities and industry.

Michael Gove called the current ICT curriculum "demotivating and dull".

He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum.

He said this would create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change".

Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove announced plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century.

BBC News - School ICT to be replaced by computer science programme

The Guardian's coverage on this the last few days has been pretty good. But isn't this a little too late? Plus will the teaching standards really change?

Pexbo · 11th January 2012, 17:00

I learnt ZERO of what I know about computers in School. It was literally a case of sitting through lessons and completing easy objectives to get the grade and it was the same for 95% of the class.

I think that is down to:

A. Underestimating the ability children/teenagers have with technology and computers.
B. The teachers and curriculum designers having actually being behind the ability of most children/teenagers.

rcoobc · 11th January 2012, 17:05

ICT is the biggest joke in the world. Worse than "Critical thinking" and "Life skills" because it sounds like a real thing.

Guy Incognito · 11th January 2012, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pexbo

I learnt ZERO of what I know about computers in School. It was literally a case of sitting through lessons and completing easy objectives to get the grade and it was the same for 95% of the class.

Exactly. I didn't have my first computer until I was probably eight or nine and within six months, I was type fluent.

Quote:

B. The teachers and curriculum designers having actually being behind the ability of most children/teenagers.

That's the most worrying part. My old school used to employ teachers just to supervise IT lessons, telling us how to make PowerPoint presentations.

Today's generation probably know Facebook, Twitter yet don't understand the concept of networking, et al. Do they even teach the C language?

Eugenius · 11th January 2012, 17:17

I got an A* in ICT. It taught me in two years stuff, that I could google in one day, about Microsoft Access

Pexbo · 11th January 2012, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy Incognito

Today's generation probably know Facebook, Twitter yet don't understand the concept of networking, et al. Do they even teach the C language?

They only teach that if you go on to do it at sixth form and beyond.

They'd probably say that most people would never use C+ or any other programming language and that only basic computer skills is a necessity.

I sure am glad I learnt about poem structure and form, algebra and atomic and molecular structure though. They've been invaluable to me since I've been living in the real world.

Quite clearly the biggest problem in schools is that the subject matter of any of the subjects being taught is all based on what was relevant to the teachers and curriculum planners when they were growing up... the problem is that the world is a very different place now.

Pexbo · 11th January 2012, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugenius

I got an A* in ICT. It taught me in two years stuff, that I could google in one day, about Microsoft Access

I bet you've used that at least twice a day since!

WeasteDevil · 11th January 2012, 17:21

About fucking time, though they'll still end up making a mess of it.

Low Level Computing and Programming.

Eugenius · 11th January 2012, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pexbo

I bet you've used that at least twice a day since!

I don't even that the thing because you have to get the premium microsoft office to use it.

adexkola · 11th January 2012, 17:30

Weaste made a thread about this a while back.

Edit: He beat me to it

Raven Blade · 11th January 2012, 19:05

ICT in school was crappy. Didn't really help me and I learnt much more by myself. I remember the curriculum for one year being so unreasonable, we were the last age group in the country doing it before they overhauled it.

Start teaching the cutting edge stuff from a young age and watch how skilled the next generations will be.

Silva · 11th January 2012, 19:11

I bet its going to be practically the same fecking thing.

x42bn6 · 11th January 2012, 20:46

Kids these days...

Year 9: Facebook, Twitter
Year 11: LEARN HOW TO USE MICROSOFT OFFICE

Team Brian GB · 11th January 2012, 23:38

In sixth form I had to waste an afternoon every week doing things like 'print to file' and when the teacher wasn't in the room you would hunt for ways to get around the school firewall onto social networking and gaming websites.

I learnt about proxy servers and virtual private networks because of that, though what was hilarious is how far behind the IT administrator was as I discovered you could get around the firewall by simply typing the IP address instead of the domain name, it took three months before that route was closed off.

Therefore the irony being I learnt far more about computers by being denied access to something than being taught about it which goes to show how useless IT is as a subject.

Pexbo · 11th January 2012, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Brian GB

In sixth form I had to waste an afternoon every week doing things like 'print to file' and when the teacher wasn't in the room you would hunt for ways to get around the school firewall onto social networking and gaming websites.

I learnt about proxy servers and virtual private networks because of that, though what was hilarious is how far behind the IT administrator was as I discovered you could get around the firewall by simply typing the IP address instead of the domain name, it took three months before that route was closed off.

Therefore the irony being I learnt far more about computers by being denied access to something than being taught about it which goes to show how useless IT is as a subject.

We used to get around all the filters by disconnecting the computer from the network by simply unplugging the ethernet cable and then letting the computer boot from the hard drive rather than the network. Then quite simply we plugged the network cable back in and although it wouldn't let you log onto the network.... the internet would still work and it wasn't throttled so we were downloading at a gargantuan 400kbps! Anything we wanted, porn, music, .exe files and the IT technician never ever clocked on to it!

Team Brian GB · 11th January 2012, 23:48

I don't know who they employ to do these jobs, divide and rule is how they should do it - £500 to the person who can make the most watertight firewall that covers all the bases and you could not get near google.

Speaking of google that was another funny one, certain keyword searches were banned like 'games' but if you typed in 'spiele' you would get listings. I make it sound as if we were cracking the enigma code but in reality the first little thing you would try it would work.

But taking the wire out and plugging it back in is hilariously bad, it shouldn't be that easy.

Sewelly The Geordie · 12th January 2012, 00:14

Stanley Road · 12th January 2012, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Brian GB

In sixth form I had to waste an afternoon every week doing things like 'print to file' and when the teacher wasn't in the room you would hunt for ways to get around the school firewall onto social networking and gaming websites.

I learnt about proxy servers and virtual private networks because of that, though what was hilarious is how far behind the IT administrator was as I discovered you could get around the firewall by simply typing the IP address instead of the domain name, it took three months before that route was closed off.

Therefore the irony being I learnt far more about computers by being denied access to something than being taught about it which goes to show how useless IT is as a subject.

Thats how We learn and thats how They learn

Zarlak · 12th January 2012, 09:42

I spent 2 years playing Roberto Baggios free kick game during my GCSE's.

rcoobc · 12th January 2012, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarlak

I spent 2 years playing Roberto Baggios free kick game during my GCSE's.

Same, great game. Needs a revamp.

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11th January 2012, 17:00	#2 (permalink)
Pexbo He'll have your eye out and listed on Amazon before you can say "ow!" Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: T'Internet Posts: 8,236	I learnt ZERO of what I know about computers in School. It was literally a case of sitting through lessons and completing easy objectives to get the grade and it was the same for 95% of the class. I think that is down to: A. Underestimating the ability children/teenagers have with technology and computers. B. The teachers and curriculum designers having actually being behind the ability of most children/teenagers.

11th January 2012, 17:05	#3 (permalink)
rcoobc Not as crap as eferyone thinks Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Corrupting West Brom Posts: 17,197	ICT is the biggest joke in the world. Worse than "Critical thinking" and "Life skills" because it sounds like a real thing.

11th January 2012, 17:17	#5 (permalink)
Eugenius Reserve Team Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Behind You Posts: 1,714	I got an A* in ICT. It taught me in two years stuff, that I could google in one day, about Microsoft Access

11th January 2012, 17:21	#8 (permalink)
WeasteDevil Observant Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: MG was wearing a lovely dress and I talked her out of it! Posts: 93,067	About fucking time, though they'll still end up making a mess of it. Low Level Computing and Programming.

11th January 2012, 17:30	#10 (permalink)
adexkola First Team Sub Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brooklyn, Connecticut. Onwards and upwards. "Take me home, United Road." Posts: 9,810	Weaste made a thread about this a while back. Edit: He beat me to it

11th January 2012, 19:05	#11 (permalink)
Raven Blade Attention Whoring Common Crow Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Red till i'm dead.. Posts: 30,978	ICT in school was crappy. Didn't really help me and I learnt much more by myself. I remember the curriculum for one year being so unreasonable, we were the last age group in the country doing it before they overhauled it. Start teaching the cutting edge stuff from a young age and watch how skilled the next generations will be.

11th January 2012, 19:11	#12 (permalink)
Silva Sticky tip Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Its best if I don't tell you. Posts: 6,667	I bet its going to be practically the same fecking thing.

11th January 2012, 20:46	#13 (permalink)
x42bn6 First Team Regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 西田麻衣の谷間. Being a nerd, geek and virgin Posts: 17,357	Kids these days... Year 9: Facebook, Twitter Year 11: LEARN HOW TO USE MICROSOFT OFFICE

11th January 2012, 23:38	#14 (permalink)
Team Brian GB Baby Cameron loves X-Factor Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16,051	In sixth form I had to waste an afternoon every week doing things like 'print to file' and when the teacher wasn't in the room you would hunt for ways to get around the school firewall onto social networking and gaming websites. I learnt about proxy servers and virtual private networks because of that, though what was hilarious is how far behind the IT administrator was as I discovered you could get around the firewall by simply typing the IP address instead of the domain name, it took three months before that route was closed off. Therefore the irony being I learnt far more about computers by being denied access to something than being taught about it which goes to show how useless IT is as a subject.

11th January 2012, 23:48	#16 (permalink)
Team Brian GB Baby Cameron loves X-Factor Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16,051	I don't know who they employ to do these jobs, divide and rule is how they should do it - £500 to the person who can make the most watertight firewall that covers all the bases and you could not get near google. Speaking of google that was another funny one, certain keyword searches were banned like 'games' but if you typed in 'spiele' you would get listings. I make it sound as if we were cracking the enigma code but in reality the first little thing you would try it would work. But taking the wire out and plugging it back in is hilariously bad, it shouldn't be that easy.

12th January 2012, 00:14	#17 (permalink)
Sewelly The Geordie Reserve Team Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The palm of Mike Ashley's hand Posts: 2,583

12th January 2012, 09:42	#19 (permalink)
Zarlak 3-0 and you messed it up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: 'I see the line, in the sand.... time to find out, who I am...' Soccer Manager - Manchester United. Posts: 15,817	I spent 2 years playing Roberto Baggios free kick game during my GCSE's.