Why should programming be part of
school curriculum?
According to Kafai, Peppler and Chiu, "youth require technological fluency of how to construct new media in order to become critical consumers and producers." The authors point out that urban youths are often in the forefront of media adaptations; however, they are on the sidelines in the terms of technology. In order for students to reach their full potential, they should have a strong understanding of what goes into producting the media as well as the more creative aspect. Within programming, students' abilities stretch beyong the arts into reading, science and math.
What are the barriers to implementing
programming in schools?
One of the biggest barriers to implementing programming in schools is convincing people it is important. "In our current era of increased accountability, pedagogy is strictly monitored in today's schools via national and state standards, which CTCs are usually left to their own devices to determine their respective learning approaches." Currently, curriculum revolves around "teaching to the test." There is little or no time to implement programs such as Computer Clubhouse. Technology and media have a huge impact on society. How can teachers ignore that impact and lessen its value? To incorporate programming would require teachers with training in that area, very few currently have the qualifications or desire to get them.
How can barriers to implementing
programming in schools be overcome?
Only through education and example, can the barriers to implementing programming in schools be overcome. We live in a world where everyone is looking for results. In order to show the importance of implementing programming, we must show the results students in programs such as Computer Clubhouse have achieved. Adults must be involved with the process. Simply providing access is not enough. "Realizing that simply providing access to programming software would be insufficient, we created opportunities for Clubhouse members to interact with adult mentors who were learning to program as well. By introducing Undergraduate mentors and hosting Scratch workshops and showcasing events, we sought to establish new norms around programming.
I found this video entitled "Sims Says Coding as Important as Reading, Writing".
I agree with you that our biggest barrier in school is convincing people that programming, or any technology for that matter, is an important integration into the curriculum. When people don't understand something or don't know enough about a subject, they have a tendency to brush it off as unimportant, while thinking "if it was important, I would hear and know more about it already". But there is so much in the world that people don't experience because it is not within their sphere of knowledge, which is why it is the teacher's responsibility to present new skills, concepts, and experience to his/her students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you:the biggest barrier is convincing people that technology belongs in the curririculum. I know several excellent (but stubborn), veteren teachers that cringe at the thought of technology; we need to alter this negative perception.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments - especially about having to show results in order to convince the skeptics and non-technology adopters that technology (and programming) can teach core curriculum skills. I have a really hard time with this notion that the only reason technology is not being used more in the classroom is because of teacher stubbornness. I can't help but think that this is not the case, and the real reason is because of lack of teacher education.... not just to teach educators how to use technology but why it is important for today's students.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoying your link because it is really relevant to the high tech jobs of the 21st century. I think that almost all scientists will need to have a basic understanding of coding because of the power of simulations in studying math based problems.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your responses. You did a very nice job using quotes form the text to reiterate what you wanted to say. I agree that part of understanding media and technology is going behind the scenes. I think when you learn something from start you finish you begin to have a better understanding. For example I now am starting to understand the details behind creating a game in Scratch but I am enjoying the challenge.
ReplyDeleteWhile I hadn’t thought about it, I agree that having others back the idea of programming is part of the difficulty of implementing it. There is a process that goes into deciding what we should and shouldn’t teach in school and in order to add programming it would need a lot of support. Getting that support is part of overcoming barriers. Doing research and showing the importance of programming and how it is working in other schools or environments is a start to overcoming any barriers.
Thanks for sharing!
Vanessa, I like your insistence that the lack of innovative uses in technology in schools is not just about teacher stubbornness.
ReplyDeleteOur country needs to have the political will to invest in education and rethink education in relation to the needs of the 21st century. Right now the focus on standardized testing as a solution to solving problems in education is overly simplistic and ineffective... and draws valuable resources away from the resources need to wide spread meaningful change.
I found it very interesting that you chose the same quote as me, I can tell that we are both business teachers :) "youth require technological fluency of how to construct new media in order to become critical consumers and producers." It is so important that the students are media literate to survive in this economy.
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