ITWales.com - INTERVIEW - Stuart Ball, Microsoft Partners in Learning, on Michael Gove announcement (Industry)

Date: 2012-01-30 Category: Interviews

Exclusive Interview - Stuart Ball, Microsoft Partners in Learning

After Michael Gove’s announcement last month that he was scrapping the existing ICT curriculum in English school’s, ITWales interviewed Stuart Ball, Programme Manager of Microsoft Partners in Learning, to get an exclusive industry point of view on how this change will affect schools, young people and industry in Wales.

1. What was your initial reaction when Michael Gove announced last week that he was scrapping the existing ICT curriculum and looking to introduce new courses of study in Computer Science in its place?

I am not sure it was a scrapping of the ICT curriculum, more of a redesign of the subject of ICT. Putting it back to what I studied in school and that was computer science. The re-introduction of computer science is an exciting prospect, but we mustn’t throw the ‘baby out with the bath water’. The strides teachers and schools have made in integrating ICT across the curriculum, is still very important and has contributed to student’s disillusion towards ICT as a subject in itself.

2. How realistic is it that these drastic changes to the curriculum can be implemented in schools from September? For instance, do teachers currently teaching ICT have the necessary skills, knowledge and resources to deliver with confidence?

It will be a challenge to implement such a curriculum for September, but computer science has already an established presence in schools, with many having computer science clubs and after school clubs covering games programming for example. There are also a wealth of free resources and support materials that can support teachers in developing their knowledge and confidence. But, it will be a challenge, we have a unique opportunity here, we cannot waste time, discussing and debating what programming language should be used or systems that should explored. It must be about concepts, ethos and structures of computer science, not the mechanism by which we deliver it. We owe it to our 21^st century learners and the computer scientists of the future to get this right. So let’s get them coding, with anything that allows a teacher to do this. Let’s not engage in any sort of format warfare.

3. What role can Microsoft Partners in Learning and projects like Technocamps play in supporting schools and creating a new high-quality Computer Science GCSE?

Microsoft Partners in Learning and Technocamps can play a very important role, especially as we start this ‘new’ era in computing in schools. Such as supporting the many ICT teachers who do not have a programming/computer science background. We can offer CPD and create a network community that can develop, support and evolve best practice in computer science. Microsoft Education and Microsoft Research have a strong and productive partnership with Computers and schools (CAS), along with Microsoft IT academy which has recently announced a new curriculum and certification for teachers and student on Games programming. We also have a vast array of free resources and applications, such as the Dreamspark Scheme (www.dreamspark.com), which are all Microsoft developer tools free to students. XNA a high level games programming system and Kodu a free visual games programming application. Then there are some exciting developments with .NET Gadgeteer for programming and building devices and the Kinect SDK, for programming and integrating the Xbox hands free controller into the PC and devices. Microsoft Education has Digigirls and campaign and event to encourage more girls to take up careers in computer science. These along with all the other resources available give the computer science curriculum a varied and rich pool of resources to draw upon.

4. If this change to the curriculum comes about, what kind of impact can we expect it to have on schools, teachers, young people and industry?

We definitely have a shortage in computer engineers, programmers and developers in the UK. Such roles end up getting outsourced to other countries. Re-addressing that skills shortage can only be a good thing. The issue for us in Wales is that this announcement does not apply to us. This doesn’t mean in any way we should sit back and wait to see what happens the other side of Offa’s dyke and then decide what we should do. In, fact nothing could be further from the truth. We should be proactive in schools developing our ICT curriculum, Let’s not forget we already have a different curriculum to England, we explore to what extent computer science currently is and can be included. Technocamps and its partners can play an important role in this. Otherwise, the skills drain for the Welsh economy won’t be to Asia or China, but across the Severn Bridge.

5. Finally, how essential is it that we teach young people the underpinning principles and Computer Science through an imaginative and rigorous curricula?

Such a change should not be viewed as just a change in the ICT curriculum. This is an opportunity to develop a multi-disciplinary approach, as Sir Ian Livingstone points out in his Next Gen report. Computer Games require knowledge of a range of subjects such as art and design. The introduction of this curriculum can have a huge positive impact on traditional subjects, in particular maths, helping improve student’s engagement and performance in the subject. The principles of computer science should not be taught and learnt in isolation, there is reciprocity between it and all subjects.

About Microsoft Partners in Learning

Microsoft Partners in Learning is free professional development support for Teachers and Schools. It can help you develop and share best practice in the use of technology to support teaching and learning. With Partners in Learning, you’ll meet other innovative teachers for collaboration opportunities, get access to free teacher resources, and learn about great ways to improve your personal teaching practice using technology. Find out more at http://blogs.msdn.com/teachers

About Stuart Ball

Stuart Ball manages the Microsoft UK Partners in Learning Programme. He is a former Primary School Deputy Hedteacher and ICT Adviser. He has written a number of books for teachers and currently co-authors the Microsoft UK Teachers blog. In 2005 he won a Microsoft Innovative Teacher Award and attended the first ever Innovative Education Forum in Seattle. He has developed an expertise in the use of technology to support learning and challenges how we think about everyday software. He is passionate about teaching and learning and all things Welsh.