So what is “computer education”?
October 22, 2010 at 10:59 am 9 comments
I’m still working on exploring computer science teacher education programs these days. One symptom is that I’m blogging less, and it will probably diminish to nothing when I go to China Nov. 2-10. (I’m told that I might not even be able to reach Facebook behind “The Great Firewall of China.”)
But in looking up somebody today, I discovered not one but two “Center(s) for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Education.” “How cool!” I thought. One is at the University of Nebraska and the other is at Rutgers.
Here’s the scary part: The words “computer science” do not even appear on either site. What the heck is “computer education” then? Best as I can tell, it’s how to use wikis in your classroom and training on building and using Google apps.
I wonder if we can sue them for misrepresentation?
Entry filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: computing education, STEM, teachers.
Computing Education Research Blog 
1.
Alan Kay | October 22, 2010 at 11:11 am
Hi Mark
I must be missing something. I went to both sites and poked around. In neither could I find anything actually about “Computer Education” of any kind (except in the title of the centers themselves) and text searches seemed to confirm this.
Did you find more? Or is this truly “designer genes” of the most egregious kind?
Cheers,
Alan
2.
Mark Guzdial | October 22, 2010 at 11:27 am
I found the same thing, Alan. When I poked around into the content of their professional development classes, I found the material I referenced on using Google Apps and Wikis in classrooms, which is what I assume they mean by “computer education.” As far as I can tell, that’s all they have.
Mark
3.
Fred Martin | October 23, 2010 at 7:05 am
OK, it is disturbing that “Computer Education” seems to have a known meaning within the Ed School crowd.
At the Rutgers site, they list about 30 courses under the heading “Technology for 21st Century Learning.” It’s basically how to use the tech we make in conventional teaching/learning scenarios: how to use iPads, Smart Boards, wikis, Moodle, podcasting, Google Earth, practically everything you can think of.
We should come up for a better name for us and share it with them. I’m sure they’d love that 🙂
[There literally are 30+ courses. Half of them seem to involve Smart Boards 🙂 Also, what’s a Prometheus Board ? http://cmsce.rutgers.edu/profdev/1011/content_areas/21st_century.php%5D
Fred
4.
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5.
Rick | October 24, 2010 at 9:02 pm
With this search:
site:cmsce.rutgers.edu “computer science”
I found Computer Science mentioned in a .pdf document but only as the title of a center: Center for Discrete Mathematics
and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS)
Sad…
6.
Karl R. Wurst | October 29, 2010 at 8:35 pm
@Fred,
The science, Math and CS departments here have begun discussing how we can have versions of the Education methods courses that focus on STEM teaching rather than (mainly) on English and Social Studies teaching. The science and Math folks have been fortunate because there are faculty with dual appointments in science departments and the Education department, and dual appointments in Math and Education, so there are people in the Education department who have some understanding of those fields. Whenever I mention CS education for Education students, they want me to provide sessions on how to use computers or other technology in the classroom, not in computing or CS. I’m not yet sure how to change this attitude, or whether to just welcome it as an inroad into their culture.
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8.
Rajesh Tiwari | September 16, 2011 at 3:53 am
Hi,
This is not going to all right.We know that the computer education is very important in present time.So every person computer knowledge is very important.All world totally depend on the computer every work done by the help of computer.So computer knowledge is very important to all person.
9.
Kevin | December 5, 2011 at 1:33 am
Computer education = Educating teachers (especially) on the use of computers in the classroom. Basically, it focuses more onto the methodology of classroom delivery via technology, in this case, computers. Therefore, computers in education is part of computer education.