[Linux-aus] Re: High school computing texts

[Glen Turner]

Jon 'maddog' Hall wrote:

> If the current CS students in Australia know "bases" in math, then just
> acknowledge it and go on.  If they do not, I recommend they learn it,
> especially if they are CS students.

Hi Jon,

The Australian universities have spent a lot of time and
effort writing a set of math textbooks for students >12
years old.  See
   http://www.icemaths.org/
They are slowly covering all the classes to 18 years old.

Addition algorithms are the first topic.

Number bases are not taught until after algebra, as they
fall out naturally from polynomials and they aren't a
prerequisite for other knowledge.  Only the advanced
students (top 50%) get this far.

The ICE-EM textbooks are an example that a group of practitioners
can tap the energy of classroom teachers to trial classroom
material developed by the practitioners and to build a better
understanding of the field by students.

I propose to do the same for computing.  Unlike ICE-EM I
am proposing the texts be Free.  It's also clear that
computing needs a lot more support material to be available.
There simply isn't the same depth of understanding of computing
principles by teachers as there is of math principles.

The syllabus is a real issue for us, unlike ICE-EM.  As you
can see from this discussion, there's a much wider divergence
of views of what should be in a computing syllabus.  I'm
not sure what to do about topics covered by a misguided
syllabus. Putting them in a textbook enshrines the teaching
of them and places pressure on the other states' syllabii
to incorporate them.

Cheers, Glen

-- 
 Glen Turner         Tel: (08) 8303 3936 or +61 8 8303 3936
 Australia's Academic & Research Network  www.aarnet.edu.au