Steve Furber On Why Kids Are Turned Off To Computing Classes

nk497 writes "UK computing legend Steve Furber — co-founder of Acorn and ARM designer — believes students are avoiding computing classes because they teach nothing but the boring basics. Currently studying why the number of students signing up for computing has halved in the past eight years, Furber said schools focus too much on teaching kids how to use spreadsheets, word processors and PowerPoint, rather than teaching more challenging areas such as programming. 'What schools are presenting as ICT as an academic subject is very mundane compared with what students know they can do,' he said. 'It's as if maths was just arithmetic or English was taught as just spelling. It's not unimportant that you can do arithmetic or you can spell, but it certainly doesn't open up the whole world of interest and challenge, if that's all you do.'"

Comments

Wake up

[qoncept]

focus too much on teaching kids how to use spreadsheets, word processors and PowerPoint, rather than teaching more challenging areas such as programming.

Yeah. Why teach the applications practical to 95% of white collar jobs instead of programming, which most kids won't be interested in, fewer will 'get' and hardly any will ever do professionally?

'It's as if maths was just arithmetic or English was taught as just spelling. It's not unimportant that you can do arithmetic or you can spell, but it certainly doesn't open up the whole world of interest and challenge, if that's all you do.'

This is just about the worst metaphor I've seen all day. If you only learn to spell, as opposed to learning speech, reading and literature, you aren't actually doing anything productive. Yet what's the common trait of all of the software listed above? It's called "productivity software." School isn't fun. You don't do what you want, you learn what [has aribrarily been decided] you need.

Besides, I know programming is hardly a glamourous, high paying job, but it sure as hell pays a lot better than being a school teacher. What kind of castoffs do you want teaching your classes?