[python-uk] The BBC and Python

Hey Folks, It has been brought to my attention that the BBC *are* actually making moves in the area of programming in schools (viz. what happened at PyconUK). I've copied an email that was forwarded to me and I think it'd be useful for the UK Python community to engage with these guys. I'm certainly going to respond and I know that there are many people on this list who have valuable experience and knowledge to share. It's almost lunch time. If you're at a loose end over your sandwich-break then why not reply rather than browse Slashdot..? :-P All the best, Nicholas. From: Keri Facer <K.Facer at mmu.ac.uk> > Date: 6 October 2011 11:54:36 GMT+01:00 > To: Keri Facer <K.Facer at mmu.ac.uk> > Subject: 'BBC Micro' Project - > > > Hi all > > Thanks for expressing an interest in informing a possible new BBC > Micro Project and thanks to all of you for the comments you have > already sent - apologies for the group reply, but your help with the > following would be very much appreciated! > > Best wishes > > Keri > > > Invitation to contribute > > > The BBC is exploring the possibility of developing a new ‘BBC Micro’ > project to encourage an interest amongst young people in computers, > computational thinking and computer science. Manchester Metropolitan > University is working with the BBC to draw on the views of teachers, > lecturers, computer scientists, programmers and others with an > interest in computational thinking in the UK today. We would > appreciate your assistance in helping to inform the early stages of > this process. > > > > First, a bit of background: > > > > In the early 1980s, the BBC started what became known as the BBC > Computer Literacy Project in response to predictions of a coming > microcomputer revolution and its likely future impacts on UK economy > and society. The BBC based its project around a computer and > programming language capable of being used to perform various tasks > which would be demonstrated in a TV series The Computer Programme. The > list of topics in the TV programme included graphics, programming, > sound and music, controlling external hardware, artificial > intelligence and teletext The computer selected was the Acorn Proton, > which was then re-badged the BBC Micro. The government funded the > purchase and distribution of 12,000 of the computers to UK schools for > use alongside the TV programme. In turn this stimulated a significant > growth in domestic use of the Micro. > > > Today, there is criticism of the ICT curriculum and the teaching of > programming (or computational thinking) in schools. The Royal Society, > amongst others, believe that design and delivery of ICT and computer > science curricula in schools is so poor that students’ understanding > and enjoyment of the subject is severely limited. In response to this > the BBC is exploring the possibility of developing a project with the > specific purpose of encouraging an interest in computers, computer > science and computer programming amongst young people. > > > > We would like to know your views on what the BBC could do in this > area. In particular, what you would see as the desirable equivalent of > the BBC Micro and The Computer Programme today? What technologies and > processes, what tools and skills would such a project need to > develop? In particular, we would appreciate answers to the specific > questions below > > > > (NB, we use the term computational thinking rather than computer > science, programming, or ICT skills because we don’t want to assume > one particular view of what is important in this area. That, indeed, > is what we want your views on). > > > > Key questions > > * What aspects of computational thinking (e.g. understanding how > ‘computers think/work’, using programming languages, > understanding systems thinking or other issues) should a BBC > Micro 2.0 project focus on? What do you think people should be > able to learn to do with computers today? Why? > * What are the best ways to support and encourage those young > people (aged 9-14) with an interest in this area, to develop > their interest and skills in computational thinking ? Can you > suggest any examples of resources or activities that you know > of? > * What are the best ways to support and encourage young people > (aged 9-14) with other intereststo develop an interest in and > understanding of computational thinking? Can you suggest any > examples of resources or activities that you know of? > * What are the key obstacles to learning computational thinking > and how might these best be overcome? > * If you were to make hardware available to schools in the same > way as the BBC Micro in 1981, what sorts of hardware would you > think was essential to develop the skills and understanding > needed? > * If you were designing a tv programme today that sought to have > the same effect as The Computer Programme in stimulating > interest in the most important new area of technological > development, what area would you expect it to address and what > topics would you expect it to cover? Would it still be in the > field of computer science? What areas? > * Do you know of any projects, resources and activities that > would be examples that this project could learn from? > * Do you have any other comments on the idea of a new BBC Micro > project? > > > Thank you for your time and your help – do let us know if you’d like > to be kept updated if there are further developments. > > > > > > > > Keri Facer (MMU) > > Howard Baker (BBC) > > Nicola Whitton (MMU) > > > > > Keri Facer > Professor of Education > Education and Social Research Institute > Manchester Metropolitan University > 799 Wilmslow Road > Manchester > M20 2RR > > Tel: 0161 247 2412 > Email: k.facer at mmu.ac.uk > Twitter: #kerileef > > "Before acting on this email or opening any attachments you should > read the Manchester Metropolitan University email disclaimer available > on its website http://www.mmu.ac.uk/emaildisclaimer " -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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