alecthegeek's personal opinion on what needs to change in Australian education in the context of the national curriculum review

1. Fixing ICT education in AU
Alec Clews
@alecthegeek
http://bitbucket.org/alecthegeek
http://slideshare.net/alecclews

2. Agenda
● What's the problem?
● Where do we want to go?
● What are some things we can do to get there?
● Ongoing conversation.......

3. Who am I to talk?
● Parent of two (18y just finished VCE ICT)
● Geek for 30+ years
● Passionate about creation of equitable and
just society, especially through opportunities
offered by technology
● But I am not a teacher!
● I help run local Raspberry Pi Jam group

4. What's the problem?
● "ICT" education is broken
– No or poor programming skills
– No passion
● AU has a skills shortage
● Many people miss out on personal
opportunities
– Women are often missing out
– People who have no access to technology

5. Where do we want to go?
● Equity of access and opportunity for all
● Everyone needs core skills
to be an effective citizen
– "Computational" Thinking
● What can a computer do for me
● Impact of technology on my society
● Personal safety and ethics
● Provide opportunities for geeks to flourish
– Real programming
– Physical computing
– Deep Problem solving skills with computers

6. What can we do(1)?
● Comment on National Curriculum
– http://consultation.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
– It will take you some time
● Read and digest
● Respond
– There is a time LIMIT

7. Suggestions on Curriculum
● Move some ICT into other areas e.g.
– e-security and e-ethics moved to citizenship
– Data interpretation and modelling moved to
humanities
– Maths topics to maths
● Use the ICT course to teach
– Practical programming in a text language
– Supporting CS. Don't be afraid of the hard stuff

8. Suggestions on Curriculum(2)
● Make CS education support other subjects
– Database systems to support humanities work
● Bring maker/hacker skills into woodwork etc
– 3D printing
– Physical computing
● Use low cost accessible computer devices

9. What can we do(2)?
● Write or talk to your local Fed MP
● Be inspired by the UK model
● http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/
– Teach teachers
– Create material
– Run events for kids and families

10. What can we do(3)?
● Support local initiatives e.g.
– Codedojo
– OpenTechSchool Melbourne
● Got kids?
– Ask at school
● Talk to other geeks and teachers
– https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/vic-ict-ng