take, it is worth reviewing the four key contributions that studying computer science makes to a young person’s education. By developing ‘computational thinking’, the ability to apply the ‘thinking tools’ of computer science such as abstraction, decomposition and algorithms, young people extend their intellectual toolkit. Programming solutions to problems encourages the development to personal attributes such as tenacity. An understanding of the underlying concepts helps young people understand the systems that underpin their digital world, and, of course the career opportunities are vast. A first step in increasing the take up of Computer Science is ensuring that young people, form tutors, the senior leadership team and, of course students and their parents understand these
IT & Computing
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR EDUCATION – www.educationbusinessuk.net
By developing ‘computational thinking’, the ability to apply the ‘thinking tools’ of computer science such as abstraction and algorithms, young people extend their intellectual toolkit benefits. The Senior Leadership Toolkit available from Computing At Schools (CAS) provides more information on this. MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE When the purpose of Computer Science is understood, the next two steps are to ensure that students make well informed option choices and that the school has teachers who can respond to any increased demand. Young people choose qualifications
they view as interesting, valuable and achievable. Taking each one of these in turn, young people’s experiences at Key Stage 3 are paramount in shaping their views of how interesting a subject is. Setting computing teaching in real contexts does a great deal to increase young people’s, interest in the subject, and this is especially the case for girls. Are they taught, even if only in principle, how, for example, the algorithms that sit behind the services they use select the options presented to them? E
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