Future of Computing Education, Part 6 - The Northern Irish Perspective May 9, 2007
Posted by Mark Tennant in : Computing, Subject Support, future of computing , trackbackNext Speaker of the 1st Day was Ian McChesney, a lecturer and teacher from Northern Ireland.
He broadly agreed with what Adrian had said were issues with the English system, as the NI system is based on this. Qualifications are delivered by the QCA exam board in England.
In NI ICT is again the dominant area in the secondary curriculum, with GCSE ICT, applied GCSE ICT, DIDA, and A level Applied ICT being offered, while only A Level Computing was offered at KS5, though this had do be done by following the English course and sitting the English exam – it is no longer a recognised NI course.
GCSE ICT focuses on skills in NI, which Ian believes is ‘diffusing’ the distinction of computing as a unique subject. A level ICT has a strong ‘Information Systems’ flavour, with around 10% uptake. Applied ICT at single or double award has a 13% uptake, totalling about 23% of students studying an ICT course. Of all the IT courses offered, (English) A level computing represents only 19% - a very small proportion.
Promoting ICT in NI
- FE/HE links well with Secondary curriculum in NI
- Forward thinking at government level is based around ICT
- ICT has been used for the purpose of crossing boundaries and removing community divisions – a big issue in NI.
Observations
Ian also presented the conference with his observations of the NI system which he divided into those he experienced as a teacher, and those he experiences as an Undergraduate Course Director. Firstly, teaching:
- Many students enjoy ICT
- There is scope to be more exciting, use modern gadgets, technology, etc.
- A level ICT is a user qualification
- Pupils want to get into more technical area of computing, but are not getting an opportunity
- Many ICT teachers are not specialists
- Innovations to make ICT relevant to industry can be dull (eg software development has a very large documentation emphasis – what pupil wants to study that!?)
- Teachers need resources and case studies (good ones!)
- Cross-curricular ICT has eclipsed computing and masked idea of progression in computer science.
Now, his observations as a UG Course Director:
- Young people do not see the difference between ICT and Computing
- Core competences in ICT are optional at A Level
- No meaningful exposure to Programming causes difficulties for universities
- A Level ICT is insufficient preparation for progression to HE/FE
Summary
Ian had one key message to get across, which was also backed up during discussion by the admissions officer for Computing at St Andrews University, Dr Ishbel Duncan:
ICT/IS is giving pupils the wrong impression of Computing at HE level.
Hear, Hear!
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