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Google Funds Raspberry Pi And CS Teachers For UK Schools

Posted by samzenpus on from the google-a-better-grade dept.

nk497 writes "Last year, Eric Schmidt slammed British computer science teaching, saying the UK was wasting its computing heritage — since then, the Government has agreed to re-examine how the subject is taught. 'Rebooting computer science education is not straightforward,' Schmidt said. 'Scrapping the existing curriculum was a good first step — the equivalent of pulling the plug out of the wall. The question is now how to power up.' To help, Schmidt has now promised funding from Google to train 100 teachers as well as give classrooms Raspberry Pis, via charity Teach First."

6 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. to train 100 teachers by Chrisq · · Score: 3, Informative

    Hmm, with over 3,900 secondary schools and over 21,000 primary schools in the UK that should go far.

    1. Re: to train 100 teachers by Simon+Brooke · · Score: 3, Informative

      For heaven's sake, it's a start, and a start is better than a slap in the face with a wet fish.

      Sadly, I think it's England only. Those of you outside the United Kingdom think we're all one country, but we aren't - we're an international union just like the EU. There is no 'UK' educational system. However, we should all of us be supporting initiatives like this where ever we are.

      --
      I'm old enough to remember when discussions on Slashdot were well informed.
    2. Re: to train 100 teachers by digitig · · Score: 5, Informative

      What I don't understand is, why not give them real computers? Surely Google has some old desktop & server systems that are being retired that could be donated, or hell, write a check and buy a couple Linux servers, install Android SDK and relevant tools, and send some of your engineers in for intensive "here's how to hack your phone" training with the teachers. Probably wouldn't cost that much, and would probably have far more "real world" application than these ridiculously overhyped RPis.

      Did you notice how the subject being taught is "Computer Science", not "IT"? There's a reason the names are different.

      --
      Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
    3. Re: to train 100 teachers by PerfectionLost · · Score: 4, Informative

      Training 100 teachers probably means a 2 hour lecture on plugging the thing in. Google is just after cheap publicity & karma.

      Or if you RTFA:

      Schmidt said the funding would be handed to the charity Teach First, to put 100 recent graduates through a six-week training course and give them equipment - including the Raspberry Pi - before sending them into schools to teach.

  2. Funding schmunding by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Informative

    From all the gripes I see the problem is finding the little buggers.

    Has anyone here actually held one in his sweaty hand?

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. Re:Nothing better than something? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    There wasn't a previous curriculum. ICT was a Microsoft designed qualification in Office "skills". For one small assignment for my A-Levels I had to use every feature of Microsoft word in a single document. Yep, I had to use word art to get marks. It was unbearable documenting office software button by button and I gave up, turned it in half done. I got pathetic C in ICT... however I am now lead graphics programmer at an award winning games developers.

    The current curriculum's in ICT and computing, had to be scrapped immediately before they put off another generation from learning the skills they need.