It is time to reconsider what Computer Science Education is

Moderira/ Moderated by: Andrej Brodnik, Fakulteta za računalništvo in informatiko, Univerza v Ljubljani

Povzetek

Ko se danes sprehajamo po svetu, se večinoma niti ne zavedamo dejstva, da so računalnik vseprisotni okoli nas. Celo več, napredek človeške civilizacije dandanes temelji na sodelovanju računalništva in informatike - RIN (angl. Computer Science) z drugimi vedami. Projekti, kot so človeški genom, LHC (Large Hadron Collider), napovedovanje globalnih klimatskih sprememb, analiziranje razširjanja in nadzora nalezljivih bolezni, sistem fly-by-wire podjetja Airbus, električni avtomobil in drugi, bi bili neizvedljivi brez kreativnega sodelovanja računalništva in informatike. Za slednje je potrebno imeti ustrezno kompetentne strokovnjake, ki se vključujejo v skupinsko delo. Pomembnost RIN poudarja tudi Bela knjiga o izobraževanju ([1]).

 Evropske države in širši svet se vedno bolj zaveda tega dejstva in kar nekaj raziskav priznanih društev in združenj se ukvarja s problemom kompetentnosti mladih na področju RIN (tu omenimo vsaj [2], [3] in [4]). Če se omejimo na poročilo zadnje, pod katerim je podpisana The Royal Society [3], iz njega navajamo štiri misli:

• Jedro vzajemno delujočih faktorjev je status quo. Cikel [ki vzdržuje status quo], se napaja iz terminološke zmešnjave ter je posledično povezan s pristopom k nadaljnjemu izobraževanju ter [v javnosti] sprejetim pomenom računalništva in informatike.
• Člani skupine in udeleženci uporabnikov so opisali, da je učenje RIN [ne informatike] razvilo mlade ljudi v ,,tvorce in načrtovalce tehnologije`` ter ne samo ,,uporabnike tehnologije`` - princip tvornosti in izražanja ter ne samo gole produktivnosti.
• Izraz IKT [pri nas Informatika] se naj premisli in razdruži na tri izraze: digitalna pismenost, informacijska tehnologija ter računalništvo in informatika. [priporočilo št. 1]
• Vsak otrok mora imeti možnost naučiti se računalništva v šoli. [v priporočilu št. 6]

Na panelni razpravi bomo kot izhodišče na kratko predstavili delčke poročila [3]. V razpravi se nam bosta pridružila prof. dr. Valentina Dagiene iz Informatics Methodology Deptartment, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Univerza v Vilni, Litva in prof. dr. Peter Micheuz, Univerza Alpe-Adria, Celovec, Avstrija. Prof. Dagiene je ena vodilnih svetovnih raziskovalk na področju izobraževanja računalništva in informatike v osnovnih in srednjih šolah.

V pogovoru, ki bo sledil, bomo predstavili poglede na naše stanje in razmislili o predlogih za nadgradnjo. Pri tem nam bosta pomagala gosta, z osvetlitvijo stanja v Avstriji, v Litvi in širše v Evropi in na svetu.

Vljudno vabljeni in ne zamudite pomembnega dogodka!

[1] Bela knjige o vzgoji in izobraževanju v Republiki Sloveniji. 2011.

[2] Koli Group, ,,The Future of Teaching Computing at School – Computing Teacher Education``. 17. november 2011.

[3] The Royal Society, ,,Shut down or restart? The way forward for computing in UK schools``. Januar 2012.

[4] The CSTA Curriculum Improvement Task Force, ,,The New Educational Imperative: Improving High School Computer Science Education – International Version``. December 2008.

Abstract

When travelling the world we are rarely aware that there are computers all around us. Moreover, the advancement of human civilization is based on the collaboration between Computer Science and other sciences. The projects, like the Human Genome Project, the Large Hadron Collider, the prediction of global climate changes, analysing and spreading of contagious diseases, the system fly-by-wire,  designed by the company Airbus, electric cars and many others, would not have been feasible without cooperation with Computer Science. For all these inventions suitable and competent experts are needed who easily engage themselves in team work. The importance of Computer Science  is also emphasized in the White Book on Education ([1]).
European countries along with the whole world is getting more and more aware of this fact and there have been several researches done by acclaimed societies which deal with the competency the youth has in the field of Computer Science (let's mention at least [2], [3] and [4]). For instance, there is a selection of four thoughts listed below, taken from the report of The Royal Society [3]:

• The core of the acting factors is status quo. The cycle [that maintains status quo] is supplied from terminological chaos; it is consequently connected with the approach to continuing studies and  [publicly] accepted importance of Computer Science.
• The group members and the participants of users have described that learning Computer Science [not Informatics] has turned young people into creators and planners of technology, so they are not its users only – the principle of creativity and self-expressing, not just sheer productivity.
• The term ICT should be reconsidered and split up into three separated terms: digital literacy, information technology and computer science [recommendation no.1]
• Each child should be given an opportunity to learn Computer Science at school [recommendation no. 6]

As a start of the pannel discussion, only small parts of the report will be briefly
presented. Two guests will join the discussion: prof. dr. Valentina Dagiene from Informatics Methodology Deptartment, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, University of Vilna, Lithuania, and prof. dr. Peter Micheuz, University  Alpen-Adria, Klagenfurt (Celovec), Austria.
Prof. Dagiene is one of the world leading researchers in the field of teaching Computer Science in primary and secondary schools.
In the upcoming discussion we will present our views of the present position which Computer Science holds in Slovenia and will suggest possible upgrading. The guests will help us with their advice and describe the conditions regarding Computer Science in their native countries, in Europe and in the world.

Don't miss this special event.  Cordially invited!

[1] Bela knjige o vzgoji in izobraževanju v Republiki Sloveniji. 2011.

[2] Koli Group, ,,The Future of Teaching Computing at School – Computing Teacher Education``. 17. november 2011.

[3] The Royal Society, ,,Shut down or restart? The way forward for computing in UK schools``. Januar 2012.

[4] The CSTA Curriculum Improvement Task Force, ,,The New Educational Imperative: Improving High School Computer Science Education – International Version``. December 2008.