Elementary math to close the digital skills gap
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | CSEDU 2018 - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computer Supported Education |
| Publisher | SCITEPRESS |
| Pages | 154-165 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Volume | 2 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9789897582912 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
| Publication type | A4 Article in a conference publication |
| Event | INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER SUPPORTED EDUCATION - Duration: 1 Jan 1900 → … |
Conference
| Conference | INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER SUPPORTED EDUCATION |
|---|---|
| Period | 1/01/00 → … |
Abstract
All-encompassing digitalization and the digital skills gap pressure the current school system to change. Accordingly, to 'digi-jump', the Finnish National Curriculum 2014 (FNC-2014) adds programming to K-12 math. However, we claim that the anticipated addition remains too vague and subtle. Instead, we should take into account education recommendations set by computer science organizations, such as ACM, and define clear learning targets for programming. Correspondingly, the whole math syllabus should be critically viewed in the light of these changes and the feedback collected from SW professionals and educators. These findings reveal an imbalance between supply and demand, i.e., what is over-taught versus under-taught, from the point of view of professional requirements. Critics claim an unnecessary surplus of calculus and differential equations, i.e., continuous mathematics. In contrast, the emphasis should shift more towards algorithms and data structures, flexibility in handling multiple data representations, logic; in summary - discrete mathematics.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Computing in math syllabus, Continuous vs. discrete math, Digital skills gap, Effectiveness of education, K-12 computer science education, Professional development of software professionals