Computer Science in K-12 Education: The Big Picture

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim BELL

As topics from computer science are increasingly being taught in K-12 schools, it is valuable for those teaching within new curricula to be aware of the purpose of the various components that students are expected to learn. We explore the main purposes of having computer science in curricula in the first place, and then use examples to show how particular topics that might be regarded by some as esoteric can be related to the bigger picture of what is trying to be achieved. The model used is to relate curriculum content to how it affects people, both those who are learning the subject, and those who will be using digital technologies developed by those who have just learned to develop them. This provides a framework to help teachers to motivate themselves, their students, and other stakeholders to engage with new curriculum content.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Taly ◽  
Francesco Nitti ◽  
Marc Baaden ◽  
samuela pasquali

<div>We present here an interdisciplinary workshop on the subject of biomolecules offered to undergraduate and high-school students with the aim of boosting their interest toward all areas of science contributing to the study of life. The workshop involves Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Biology. Based on our own areas of research, molecular modeling is chosen as central axis as it involves all disciplines. In order to provide a strong biological motivation for the study of the dynamics of biomolecules, the theme of the workshop is the origin of life. </div><div>All sessions are built around active pedagogies, including games, and a final poster presentation.</div>


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-128
Author(s):  
D. V. Bryzgalov

The subject of the research is the influence of the insurance market digitalization on competition forms in insurance. The purpose of the research was to study the forms of competition and factors of competitiveness in the process of digitalization of insurance activities. The research findings revealed the specifics of competition between insurance companies in digital sales channels of insurance services, and identified groups of new factors in the competitiveness of insurance programs. The paper describes two models of the policyholder behavior typical for traditional and digital sales channels in the insurance market — classical and digital. It is concluded that the digitalization of the insurance market influences the competition between insurance companies making a shift towards the channel competition and contributing to the emergence of new competition factors for insurance programs developed with digital technologies.


Author(s):  
Nina Bergdahl ◽  
Melissa Bond

AbstractIt is well-recognised that engagement is critical for learning and school success. Engagement (and disengagement) are, however, also influenced by context. Thus, as digital technologies add complexity to the educational context, they influence classroom leadership, lesson designs and related practices, and thereby engagement. Despite being critical, engagement and disengagement are not well explored concerning these influences, with a lack of research undertaken within socially disadvantaged schools. In this qualitative study, 14 classroom observations were conducted, during five months, in twelve classes in an upper secondary school in Sweden, along with dialogues with teachers (n=12) and students (n=32). The data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Identified themes include digital context, teacher leadership, engagement and disengagement. A network of relations between the (dis-)engagement compound and themes is presented. The results identified processes in which engagement shifted into disengagement and vice versa; in particular, that the intention of active learning does not automatically translate to active learning for all students, although teachers employed a higher work pace than did their students. Teacher self-efficacy and awareness of how to manage digital technologies in and outside the classroom was found to play a vital role in facilitating engagement. Understanding the (dis-)engagement compound in blended learning environments is key to inform active and visible learning for future research and supportive organisational structures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Joslenne Peña ◽  
Benjamin V. Hanrahan ◽  
Mary Beth Rosson ◽  
Carmen Cole

Many initiatives have focused on attracting girls and young women (K-12 or college) to computer science education. However, professional women who never learned to program have been largely ignored, despite the fact that such individuals may have many opportunities to benefit from enhanced skills and attitudes about computer programming. To provide a convenient learning space for this population, we created and evaluated the impacts of a nine-week web development workshop that was carefully designed to be both comfortable and engaging for this population. In this article, we report how the professionals’ attitudes and skills grew over the course of the workshop and how they now expect to integrate these skills and attitudes into their everyday lives.


Author(s):  
Emily C. Bouck ◽  
Phil Sands ◽  
Holly Long ◽  
Aman Yadav

Increasingly in K–12 schools, students are gaining access to computational thinking (CT) and computer science (CS). This access, however, is not always extended to students with disabilities. One way to increase CT and CS (CT/CS) exposure for students with disabilities is through preparing special education teachers to do so. In this study, researchers explore exposing special education preservice teachers to the ideas of CT/CS in the context of a mathematics methods course for students with disabilities or those at risk of disability. Through analyzing lesson plans and reflections from 31 preservice special education teachers, the researchers learned that overall emerging promise exists with regard to the limited exposure of preservice special education teachers to CT/CS in mathematics. Specifically, preservice teachers demonstrated the ability to include CT/CS in math lesson plans and showed understanding of how CT/CS might enhance instruction with students with disabilities via reflections on these lessons. The researchers, however, also found a need for increased experiences and opportunities for preservice special education teachers with CT/CS to more positively impact access for students with disabilities.


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