Search

Computer science has been a discipline for some years, and its position in the school curriculum has been contested differently in several countries. This paper looks at its role in three countries to illustrate these differences. A reconsideration of computer science as a separate subject both in primary and secondary education is suggested. At EDUsummIT 2015 it was argued that the major rationales for including computer science as a subject in the K-12 curriculum are economic, social and cultural. The paper explores these three rationales and also a beneficence matrix to assist curriculum designers. It also argues computer science is rapidly becoming critical for generating new knowledge, and should be taught as a distinct subject or content area, especially in secondary schools. The paper concludes by looking at some of the key questions to be considered when implementing computer science in the school curriculum, and at ways its role might change in the future.

This paper presents a 10-year review study that focuses on the investigation of the use of computer card games (CCGs) as learning tools in Computer Science (CS) Education. Specific search terms keyed into 10 large scientific electronic databases identified 24 papers referring to the use of CCGs for the learning of CS matters during the last decade. The findings revealed that the CCGs reported by the reviewed papers were used for the learning of diverse CS issues. The motivation behind the use of the aforementioned CCGs was based on: (a) students' familiarity with the CGs at hand, so that they might focus on the construction of their simulation, (b) the fact that, the logic of CGs is suitable for the teaching of various CS concepts, and (c) CCG-play as a motivational activity to engage learners in their learning. CCGs were used in two ways: as CCG-construction context based on supportive data provided by educators, and as CCG-play educational tools. The constructivist learning approach was implied behind the design and use of most of the CCGs reported in the articles reviewed. Evaluation of some CCGs also provided positive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer science has been a discipline for some years, and its position in the school curriculum has been contested differently in several countries. This paper looks at its role in three countries to illustrate these differences. A reconsideration of computer science as a separate subject both in primary and secondary education is suggested. At EDUsummIT 2015 it was argued that the major rationales for including computer science as a subject in the K-12 curriculum are economic, social and cultural. The paper explores these three rationales and also a beneficence matrix to assist curriculum designers. It also argues computer science is rapidly becoming critical for generating new knowledge, and should be taught as a distinct subject or content area, especially in secondary schools. The paper concludes by looking at some of the key questions to be considered when implementing computer science in the school curriculum, and at ways its role might change in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]