CIC: Semester 2, Week 2: Computing Education in the UK

[updated 20/1/25, 4.45pm]

We will now turn our attention to computing education in the UK, and other countries in the world. We'll look at some recent work from the Royal Society about how more school students could be enouraged to study computing. You’ll also research what computing education is like in another country, and think of your own solutions to improving CS Education.  

1. Read the executive summary and recommendations from the Royal Society After the Reboot Report.
2. Read this opinion piece about why the UK computing reforms have not worked. To what extent do you agree? Why?
3. Look at the infographics about school pupils' attitudes to computing, from a 2024 report commisioned by the Royal Society. How do you think the infographics were derived? To what extent do you think they are helpful? Why?
4. Research the computing curriculum in a country of your choice. It can be anywhere you like, as long as it is not in the UK or the country where you were educated.
5. Write a summary of what you find and post it to the discussion board. You should write about: which country you picked and why; when children first learn about computing in that country; whether it is formally written into the curriculum or whether it is an optional extra; whether they can study for a formal computing qualification; how you think computing education in the country is different to what you learned about computing education in Scotland.

6. Read and comment on the summaries of the other students. If you happen to have experience of the school system they are describing, tell them about your experiences. 

   Class slides