Changing Computer Programming Education: The Dinosaur That Survived in School: An Explorative Study about Educational Issues Based on Teachers' Beliefs and Curriculum Development in Secondary School (original) (raw)

2013, 2013 Learning and Teaching in Computing and Engineering

It took me almost 35 years with a diversity of teachers, instructional methods and students (20 years of teaching) to realize that the problem of teaching and learning was far more complex than passing my earlier experiences on to my students or embracing exemplary teaching. During my university studies, a search for the foundations of knowledge began. Commonly, concepts in Physics were offered, "as they are" without references or concern for their origins or historical evolution. I specifically remember how a course in the History of Physics opened my eyes to the importance of societal context, i.e. how concepts used could be seen as products of their time and the people behind them. As an upper secondary school teacher, I worked hard to implement these ideas as they (to me) seemed rich and useful to learning and understanding. When working as a project manager for a vocational education in data and telecommunication a few years later, I learnt from experience that "softer concepts" (context, culture, values and norms) matter to education. While teaching computer programming in different contexts I found myself teaching differently in different context, and this became an important experience. Some years later, after my Master thesis, the issue appeared in a new guise. I was heavily involved in instructional design for learning, based on collaboration. The idea was to design collaborative learning environments in computer programming and databases, for teachers and students. The aim was to use IT/ICT to enhance the learning situation in classrooms and on-line. In the search for coteachers, we found that applicants commonly expressed interest, but our intention to collaborate with schools became almost impossible to achieve. An experience that set the wheels in motion for this study.