Where Does Computer Science Fit in the Curriculum

I've been thinking about this whole "computer science is a liberal art" that I have commented on before. John Mullinax has been hearing it as well so maybe this is an idea with traction. Well perhaps it is gaining traction among techies. Is it gaining any among educators? I'm not so sure about that.

Ben Chun teaches computer and math courses and recently he blogged about the difference between teaching math and teaching computer courses which are outside the usual requirements. On one hand these "outside" courses allow a teacher a great deal of freedom about what and how to teach. On the other hand there are an awful lot of students graduating high school without the computer skills they really should have to succeed.

Now you may think that somehow, like magic, all teens know all there is to know about computers. You probably think they know how to use search engines well, how to get a lot out of a word processor and of course they know all about email. Well the teachers in my audience are mostly laughing about now because they know otherwise. It is not a happy joyful laugh though. There is a touch of sadness there because teachers know that students are often missing out.

Now there is a big difference between knowing computer applications and computer science. While a lot of school boards and administrators are confused about that most computer/business/technology teachers are not. But the two do go hand in hand. Computer science knowledge like Boolean algebra and decision structures make getting the most out of spreadsheets a whole lot more likely just to name one of the more obvious connections.

And yet often neither computer applications or computer science are required for graduation from high school. And even when they are they are seldom tested in any sort of standardized way. The State of New Hampshire's ICT requirements are here BTW. They actually look pretty good in theory. And most of it is required before entering high school. But there is a lack of specificity that concerns me. And there is no requirement for a real computer science course anywhere in the standard.

There is a course "Applying programming concepts used in software development." that is listed as a course that a local school board "shall provide" but in practice most school board seem to think that including any of the listed courses is enough. Well the curriculum is crowded after all. And there is a shortage of teachers who can really teach computer science. And of course No Child Left Behind doesn't require these skills be tested. So well, maybe we'll get to that one day. Or not.

On the up side the Department of Education in New Hampshire is at least collecting a lot of materials to help the schools who want to do ICT right.  Though to be honest I am having trouble understanding where "music theory" and "TV Broadcasting" fit into the ICT standards as I read them. They are listed as courses that meet the requirement at one NH high school.