1. Computing At School (CAS) & curriculum change in the UK Dr Sue Sentance National Academic Coordinator, Computing At School 24th October 2014

2. There is no THEM, only US! … started in 2008 with 5 members
… in 2014 almost at 10,000 members …
There is no THEM, only US!

3. Industry (eg. Google, Microsoft)‏
Simply a group of individuals, concerned about the state of computing education in our schools
Including:
Teachers
Industry (eg. Google, Microsoft)‏
University academics (incl. CPHC, UKCRC)‏
Members of exam board (eg. AQA)‏
Members of professional societies (eg. BCS)‏
Parents
Local educational advisers
Teacher trainers
Varied backgrounds, with common concerns
It wasn’t just teachers …

4. CAS believes that …
Computer science is a proper, rigorous school subject discipline, on a par with mathematics or chemistry, that every child should learn from primary school onwards.
NB. It is not about computers, nor is it about programming

5. The role of CAS? Directly support teachers “on the ground”
Influencing national policy
Computing: a curriculum for schools
Directly support teachers
“on the ground”

6. The Royal Society recommendations – from ICT to Computing

7. Curriculum change (in England)
Computer Science at heart of new curriculum
Schoolchildren from age 5 to be taught computer science
Still includes digital literacy as major component
September 2013 Final Programme of Study for Computing published – effective from 1st September 2014

8. New national curriculum for Computing

9. CAS Membership

11. CAS Regional Hubs

12. Peer-to-peer support

13. Master teachers Run low-cost training events for teachers
Speak at events
Visit teachers in schools
Active members of CAS Community

14. Summary
Computing At School started as a vehicle for advocacy to promote CS in school. CAS is a true “community of practice” Curriculum change has happened (in England) and growth is very rapid! CAS : “There is no THEM, only US” Our professional development model (NoE) is holistic – a local, peer-to-peer, face-to-face model… empowering enthusiastic teachers

15. Questions for discussion
CAS teachers will be asked to volunteer to test the materials. Questions they will ask…
What level of commitment is needed from the participating teachers?
What level of skill/background will they (teachers) need to have to participate in the project?
At what age group (students) are the materials to be aimed?
What are the benefits for the participating teachers?