In June of 2016 Massachusetts approved a new curriculum Digital Literacy and Computer Science, and shortly the new 5-12 teaching license in DL & CS will be available. I am not sure if I have wrapped my head around the real implications of these new standards. Schools have not added a new discipline to the K-12 curriculum in centuries. People tend to focus on the computer science aspect of the curriculum but it is Digital Literacy and Computer Science in…
A couple of weeks ago the New York Times had article Where the STEM jobs Are (and Where They Aren’t). As a former science teacher and now a technology specialist I am acutely aware the difference between the S in STEM and the T. Even the T takes on multiple meanings. Engineering technology and Computer Science related technology. I have noticed as many grants come out to support STEM and schools announce their renewed focus on STEM there is not…
This June the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education formally adopted new Digital Literacy and Computer Science Curriculum Frameworks. A good portion of the digital literacy frameworks overlap with the literacy standards regarding research, analysis of information, collaboration and presentations. These standards place added emphasis on these skills and the tech tools needed to meet them. What is significantly different is the much needed addition of computer science; computing and society, digital tools and collaboration, computing systems and, computational…
For those of you who have been regular readers you know I struggle with traditional schooling and how it confines and limits learning. I have raised two children who were interested in computers, gaming, digital art, ancient languages, ancient arts and mythologies, topics not part of most school curriculum. A good deal of their learning took place outside of traditional schooling, some times instead of it. I know schools can’t be all things to all people, nor should they. But…
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) had just release new draft standards for Digital Literacy and Computer Science. These, if adopted, will replace the current standards adopted in 2008. ISTE is also undergoing a refresh in the standards draft standards should be released in Jan 2016. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made. I am excited to see the addition of computational thinking and computer science. I strongly believe these are necessary for success in our…
Many school curricula have remained pretty much unchanged for decades some could argue centuries. The basic common elements of English, Math, Science and History are constants, it is the other curricular options that seem to come and go over time. When I was in middle school/ high school we had a choice of home economics options; sewing, cooking, money matters, early childhood education. There was also a “shop” track; woodworking, automotive repair, metal working, business accounting, keyboarding, and short hand. …
Next week is Computer Science Education Week, and to celebrate many are participating in an Hour of Code. The focus is to identify how computers and code is almost everywhere from the obvious mobile devices to your toaster and microwave and to “demystify” code. Some one needs to create these devices and develop code. yet computer science is not taught in many schools. The hour of code has activities for student as young as 6 and even activities that do not…