Looking Out To Sea

Last week in The Herald:

Pupils show a lack of interest in computer studies

University students are being used to help rekindle interest in computing science courses in Scottish schools amid concerns for the future of the subject.

… The difficulty for teachers and local authorities stems from the difference between computing studies and ICT, the latter being more common in schools. Computing studies deals with technical aspects of computers and technology, while ICT teaches pupils the user side of technology.

This was certainly the case when I was at school — computing was taught by people who had no apparent understanding of the subject beyond the use of application software. So that was what we learned. Certainly nothing of the mathematics, programming or rich history of the field. (I started Standard Grade computing but dropped it after a couple of weeks when I read through the past papers and realised I stood a good chance of passing the two-year course without study.)

A day or so after that article in The Herald, two responses appeared on the letters page. The first, from the University of Edinburgh’s school liaison in the Informatics department:

Policy-makers at all levels need to understand that being able to “use” Microsoft Word or Google doesn’t make you a computer expert — it merely makes you just another consumer. If we want our children to be prepared for a better future than as readily replaceable call-centre fodder, then we need to understand that the wielders of tools are always under the control of the creators of tools, and that ICT is not computer science.

I don’t recall seeing the situation summarised with such clarity and conciseness before. This is exactly the problem (and what’s more, the problem isn’t even limited to computing or to Scotland).

What really iced the cake for me was the second letter on the subject that day, from a teacher at my old school. Mark Tennant wasn’t around when I studied there but he obviously knows what he’s talking about, and highlights some alarming turns:

Faced with falling numbers in a department that requires costly equipment and resources to run, it is hardly surprising that head teachers are choosing to close computing departments. I would, however, implore them not to take the easiest option, but rather work with the departments to re-invigorate their computing courses for pupils, right from the start of secondary school.

Even contemplating closing down computing departments seems horrifying from my view — but then, if the subject they teach is as dull as Mr Tennant makes out, what merit is there in keeping them open? It seems clear that the people in charge (of the curriculum and of the individual schools) don’t realise what computing should be about.

I wrote to Mr Tennant (tracked him down via his blog) to thank him for his letter and to ask him how I might help. He says (I hope he doesn’t mind being quoted):

If you are wanting to help out with the campaign then the best thing you can do is make some noise — make sure that you respond to any articles in the press, write to your MSP etc. Broadly, there are three messages we are trying to get across.

1. There is a difference between computing and ICT skills, and both are important to have in schools,

2. The computing curriculum is outdated and contains irrelevant content, but we aim to address this through “Curriculum For Excellence”

3. Head Teachers are limiting pupil’s options if they remove computing from their schools, and parents should be very concerned.

I will be writing to my MSP about this. If you feel as strongly I recommend you do the same. You can find out exactly who that is by inserting your postcode or address on the Scottish Parliament website.

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