Elevator Pitch
Our generation of young people in school (aged 5-18) have noticed the connection between Computer pRogramming, Technology & Success and Billionaires.On mass they are clamoring to master the skill of Computer pRogramming. We describe a successful working model for the teaching of Computer pRogamming.
Description
Computer Science is now regarded as one of the leading disciplines in the 21st century. Computers are ubiquitous and prevalent in most, if not all, sectors of our modern society – applications include using them in weather forecasting, robotic surgery, space exploration, e-commerce, smart cities, driverless cars, etc.
Therefore, coding or computer programming is now regarded by many as an essential skill for the young person, and it has been dubbed the ‘4th’ R’ (computer pRogramming) along with Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic.
In recognition of the new status of computer programming, governments worldwide have launched initiatives to have it taught in schools from Kindergarten through to junior school and all the way through secondary school.
So, the question emerges is how do we best teach and motivate the next generation in acquiring this skill? Given the fact that this field is very much in its infancy, there are insufficient number of skilled Computer Science teachers and very little pedagogy to guide the educator. Therefore, the whole world is learning how best to teach this subject by trial and error.
The talk will describe a case study whereby coding/computer programming, in the form of Python programming, was introduced to a group of 110 young people from the ages of 11 to 18 (Years 7-13 in a U.K secondary school). The talk will include descriptions of the various teaching methodologies introduced to the young people for this purpose and the outcomes; the talk will also address various challenges and questions about how to teach coding to young people. The talk will conclude with helpful suggestions, based on the findings of the case study, on how to proceed with the teaching of computer programming to these people.
Notes
The technical requirements for the talk are:- (i) SlideProjector which will project PowerPoint Slides (ii) SlideProjection facilities which project audiovisual information in the form of YouTube videos (iii) Laptop for Projection.
Below is a brief bio of myself and an explanation of why I am a good/best person to speak on this subject.
[Intro]
Lilian is extremely passionate about promoting Computer Science education and Computer pRogramming amongst young people.
[Early curiosity]
Lilian was born, bred and educated mainly in London, UK. From early childhood, she became inquisitive about computers and coding, firstly by watching her mother studying for a heavily computational discipline - an MSc in numerical analysis and then later on by watching her uncle analysing, using computers in the experimental results of CERN’s annihilation of nuclear particles to discover Bosons.
[ Educational achievements in CS]
Lilian studied Computer Science at school and did her PhD in Computer Modelling from University College London. She then went on to looking at computing applications and programming in the pharmaceutical sector before entering formal teaching after studying for a PGCE in Computer Science from Kings’ College London. She is currently engaged in teaching Python programming, C# and Javascript. She has given lectures in conferences in the UK and abroad about the teaching of Computer Programming to young people. She has spoken at the PyCon conferences in Poland and the UK. She has ran computer clubs including that of “computer-assisted investment” for children and is a full member of the British Computer Society.
[ Mission or Vision]
Lilian firmly believes that in this emergent brave new world, the Anthropocene age, the computer (with its associated technologies) is the harbinger to transform globally man’s short, brutish, slavish existence to a better one –a world community defined by longer, richer, freer life experiences. She believes that it’s imperative that our schools empower our young children with this new knowledge and, as such, Lilian herself did help to reshape the Computer Science Department at an independent boys’ school as Head of Department, is associated with UDEMY and has produced for children more than 75 YouTube (on-line) Videos, having more than ten thousand hits globally.
[ Mission or Vision]
Lilian firmly believes that in this emergent brave new world, the Anthropocene age, the computer (with its associated technologies) is the harbinger to transform globally man’s short, brutish, slavish existence to a better one –a world community defined by longer, richer, freer life experiences. She believes that it’s imperative that our schools empower our young children with this new knowledge and, as such, Lilian herself did help to reshape the Computer Science Department at an independent boys’ school as Head of Department, is associated with UDEMY and has produced for children more than 75 YouTube (on-line) Videos, having more than ten thousand hits globally.
To conclude, Lilian would be very interested in speaking at the conference and she believes she has something of value to offer to the audience.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I can be reached on lilian_nandi@yahoo.co.uk or lnandi337@gmail.com or 07810545642.
Thank you for your attention.