Richard Millwood » computing http://blog.richardmillwood.net A new learning landscape Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:28:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 The Importance of Computing as a Specialist Subject in Schools http://blog.richardmillwood.net/2007/09/29/the-importance-of-computing-as-a-specialist-subject-in-schools/ http://blog.richardmillwood.net/2007/09/29/the-importance-of-computing-as-a-specialist-subject-in-schools/#comments Sat, 29 Sep 2007 19:57:03 +0000 Richard Millwood http://blog.richardmillwood.net/2007/09/29/the-importance-of-computing-as-a-specialist-subject-in-schools/ Naace All-Members Autumn Conference 2007

Shared a platform with Gillian Lovegrove on this topic at the Naace All-Members Conference at Cisco in Feltham. I enjoyed the relatively easy task of listing some of the arguments for computing’s contribution to the wealth of human knowledge:

  1. computing > arithmetic – it is also the engine room of the social network / Web 2.0
  2. ubiquity of knowledge management – all disciplines’ approach to knowledge is infected with computing
  3. creativity and problem solving – it provides extraordinary potential for creative and problem solving activity by making the abstract concrete
  4. concept of the human mind – ideas of the mind have interchanged with concepts of the computer throughout history
  5. historical contribution – the interrelationship with war, economy, culture and democracy
  6. tool culture drives evolution (genetic and social) – tools have been symbiotic with humanity’s evolution since the stone age and the computer is the most sophisticated and diverse tool invented

After Gillian’s points about the problems facing the subject of computing, it was most challenging to hear one member of the audience ask the question: “Could it be our fault?”. It will be interesting to see how this discussion develops in the future.

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