All too often, people associate Computer Science (CS) with actual computers (the hardware) while others immediately jump to the programming link with CS. This is partially true, but as a Computer Science educator I'd like to think that these are just tools, in the CS space. Coding and hardware are essential to CS but they evolve quite regularly so methodologies need updating depending on the trend, whereas I believe that there is a more rooted core in CS, computational thinking. Computational thinking is really problem solving, the thought process involved and structuring it so that human or machine can interpret unambiguously, it and is a fundamental part of CS, in which coding and hardware are layered above it. I personally believe that Computational Thinking should be taught before coding or hardware, especially in secondary and primary schools.
I have taught Scratch (an introductory visual programming by discovery language) to nearly all ages and have always had to revert to some form of problem based learning as soon as the code gets complex, no matter the age group!
To help a team at Maynooth University have developed a solution alongside ICS. They developed a set of challenges backed up with teaching material. The challenges are carefully selected to teach and develop computational thinking. The end of challenges led to the Bebras Challenge in which 85 of my students from second level took part in. The whole experience was very positive, student participation was voluntary and 25% of the school took part, with teachers approaching me after who did not take part looking forward to taking part next year! Information on this Challenge can be found at bebras.techweek.ie . The future is looking good in CS!
To help a team at Maynooth University have developed a solution alongside ICS. They developed a set of challenges backed up with teaching material. The challenges are carefully selected to teach and develop computational thinking. The end of challenges led to the Bebras Challenge in which 85 of my students from second level took part in. The whole experience was very positive, student participation was voluntary and 25% of the school took part, with teachers approaching me after who did not take part looking forward to taking part next year! Information on this Challenge can be found at bebras.techweek.ie . The future is looking good in CS!