Comments on: What does equity-focused teaching mean in computer science education?

By: Sue Sentance

Sue Sentance — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 16:07:33 +0000

In reply to Stuart Andrew Jones. Hear hear!

By: Jeffrey DeWitt

Jeffrey DeWitt — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 13:22:41 +0000

In reply to Stuart Andrew Jones. Good points. While I'm vehemently opposed to any new government programs I can see how much of what you are proposing is already happing or could be put together at a very reasonable cost. The new Starlink system SpaceX is putting up will be able to provide internet to pretty much everywhere, and much of the free educational materials you discuss are already available. It seems like there is a great opportunity for a non profit organization (to which I'd gladly contribute), to start putting all these pieces together.

By: Stuart Andrew Jones

Stuart Andrew Jones — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:08:03 +0000

I have been teaching computing for nearly 60 years, formally (as a professor of Nuclear Medicine Technology, which deeply involves computing) and informally, to colleagues, other members of the medical care team, and the general public. The effects of the pandemic on education in general, and primary education in particular, have brought the malign effects of absent or limited access to technology to the forefront. The ongoing crisis presents an opportunity to address the obvious and absurd inequities in the education system as a whole. As a physician-healer, senior computer person and educator, and as a citizen of the world, I call upon the agencies (govenments, NGOs, and philanthropic institutions, as well as IT-related businesses) to address these inequities with vigorous and immediate actions, including:
1. Providing adequate picocomputer systems to all in need of computing equipment.
2. Providing reasonable-speed internet access to all.
3. Collecting existing free educational content, especially in basic subjects (language skills, arithmetic and basic mathematics, basic science concepts, basic biology, chemistry, physics, human biology) and making it freely available.
4. Designing and constructing educational activities providing education that remedies deficiencies in current education.
5. Identifying master educators among the teaching population, and making their lectures and publications available to all.
6. Identifying existing educational content that has been proven effective (e.g. Rosetta Stone) and subsidizing making it generally available.
I call for nothing less than democritizing excellent education. This must no longer be the province of the wealthy and well-connected, but available to everyone, not just in one country, but all over the world. If we do this, we greatly enhance the likelihood that our civilization will survive and prosper.

By: James Carroll

James Carroll — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 18:52:20 +0000

While computer education is important, vital even, today. I feel the bigger problem is the fact that massive numbers of children in the US, especially from inner city schools, can’t even do the basics such as reading, writing, and simple math. The reasons for this are varied but what bothers me the most is how many parents don’t even seem to care. It’s a disaster in the making.

By: Sue Sentance

Sue Sentance — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:42:21 +0000

In reply to Hardik Shiroya. Thanks for these comments, Hardik. I'm pleased you found the points raised were valuable and accorded with your own experience. I agree that the focus on families and beyond is really important in the way that Shomari highlighted. Thanks so much for engaging with the post and the seminar, and taking time to write a comment.

By: Sue Sentance

Sue Sentance — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:39:36 +0000

In reply to Elfen. Thanks for your comment Elfen - really interesting to read. The speakers at the seminar were from US (you can watch the seminar on youtube following the link in the post) and did talk about socioeconomic disadvantage, and also the influence of the pandemic, which I didn't have space to relay in the blog post. I think your experience in NYC is mirrored elsewhere, in that remote learning has been incredibly difficult for many families to access due to lack of technology etc. Thanks so much for engaging with the post and taking time to write a comment.

By: Hardik Shiroya

Hardik Shiroya — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 09:37:34 +0000

If you focus on the one sentence where Somari said that the absence of know about technology can drastically affect on the experience of young people, you will find that it’s perfectly true. In the developed countries like USA, UK, France, Australia, and Germany, the educational background of parents is what adds an extra value in their kid that they only need to start with next level. And, Somari also added previously that equity-focused computer science education can develop far more better experience than ever. Here, the idea that Somari has represented isn’t just limited to the teachers or mentors. It’s also not limited to parents. It goes beyond. He taken families into an account. According to him, the families can interact with each other like students are doing in the classroom regarding their finished work or project to share the experience. So, that, both sides gain and give a knowledge (experience here). And, we all know that experience is what only matters here. Indirectly, Somari has mentioned a hybrid way to follow in knowledge sharing. Because, when parents with educational background and no educational background can share a lot of thing where parents with no educational background have to gain more whereas the opposite side has to give more, and also to take more away. Overall, the best ways about knowledge sharing including the possibilities, were discussed. Good work!

By: Elfen

Elfen — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:48:06 +0000

**SMH** This article has to be UK heavy as it does not reflect the issues here in the States, especially here in NYC, New York State. Here the expanse of the Digital Divide is great mostly to socio-economic reasons. Furthering this is the marketing of video game systems and smartphones for personal reasons and not educational reasons eating into the incomes of those should not be having these things; it is that families need to decide between buying a new game for the kids to keep them entertained and quiet vs. buying food for the week and paying certain bills because the market drives them to the wrong decisions.
Since 1980, I have worked hard to even the playing field in my communities and had a hand in opening Computer centers, Community Digital Centers, Expanding Computer User Groups and starting the Computer Literacy Programs our school system uses to this day. There has been some improvements in some areas but it is still lacking in most others. In my opinion there is no excuse for a city like NYC not to have a bleeding edge modernized program like some other places do.
Now during this Pandemic and the use of remote Learning, the school system here is learning how devoid the average low income family has in digital equipment to access the internet, let alone having an internet connection. More than a school year has passed and still many areas have not addressed.

I could continue but I will end it here. This is a subject close to my heart and the basis of my 35+ year Career in Computer Education and Literacy. I will be attending the Seminar.