Microcomputer laboratories in mathematics education

AbstractThis article discusses the mathematical-educational potential of a computational laboratory at the pre-calculus and co-calculus levels. The laboratory envisaged is based on a set of microcomputers, whose use plays a central role in the teaching process, with particular emphasis on algorithmization. A new role for the mathematics teacher and professor is layed out, augmenting the “chalk and talk” methods by active participation as a laboratory instructor. Following a brief description of the integration of such a laboratory into the mathematical education, seven appropriate subjects are discussed, including some new relevant elementary proofs and worked out examples. Emphasis is placed upon the mathematical-educational byproducts (such as error bounds, ill-conditioning, complexity, rate of convergence, etc.) accompanying the implementation of these seven modules. Special attention is given to the removal of “black box” procedures and to the construction of “numerical methods that work”. Extensions and generalizations to more advanced topics are indicated, especially where the results in our modules may serve as points of departure in that direction

A university-based model for supporting computer science curriculum reform

Computer science curriculum reform in the United Kingdom has been subject to substantial scrutiny—as it has in many other countries around the world—with England introducing a radical new computing curriculum from September 2014. However, in Wales—a devolved nation within the UK—political, geographical and socio-cultural issues have to date hindered any substantive educational policy or curriculum reform for computer science. In this paper, we present the activities of Technocamps, a national university-based schools outreach programme founded in 2003, and consider its wider impact on computer science education, schools, pupils and teachers in Wales. In contrast to successful interventions elsewhere in the UK in building and sustaining communities of practice, certain political and cultural challenges in Wales have largely prevented these successful models from being adopted. Through the consideration of the national case study presented in this paper, we demonstrate the necessity of the nation-wide school- and student-focused Technocamps model in building resilient and scalable practitioner-led support networks. Furthermore, with emerging curriculum reform in Wales, we frame the wider opportunity for computer science education and sustainably embedding cross-curricular digital competencies—along with changing the wider public perception and perceived value of computer science as an academic discipline—as a prospective replicable case study of a national engagement model for nations with similar aspirations of developing digitally confident and capable citizens. To this end, we conclude by drawing out the important lessons learnt for consideration when embarking on a programme of national curriculum reform and associated professional development

Looking outside: What can be learnt from computing education around the world?

There is a growing awareness of the importance of including computing education in the curriculum of secondary schools in countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and South Korea. Consequently, we have seen serious efforts to introduce computing education to the core curriculum and/or to improve it. Recent reports (such as Wilson et al. 2010; Hubwieser et al. 2011) reveal that computing education faces problems regarding its lack of exposure as well as a lack of motivators for students to follow this line of study. Although students use computers for many tasks both at home and at school, many of them never quite understand what computer science is and how it relates to algorithmic thinking and problem solving. This panel will bring together leaders in computing education from Australia, Germany, Greece, Israel and Norway to describe the state of computing education in each of their countries. Issues raised will include how high school computer education is conducted in that country, how teachers are skilled /accredited, the challenges that are being faced today and how these challenges are being addressed. Panellists will suggest lessons other countries may find of value from their way of doing things. An important issue is how to recruit female students in to computer education at high school level and how to encourage them to continue in the discipline to university. The problem is exacerbated because computer education is still not included as a compulsory subject in the regular curriculum of high schools in all of these countries

The CECE Report: Creating a Map of Informatics in European Schools

https://doi.org/10.1145/3159450.315963