A2H GO 
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Registered: 14th Sep 04
 Location: Stoke 
User status: Offline 
 
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I'd mised this when it was announced last year but it's pretty big news. 
 
I think it's about time we stopped teaching kids how to use MS Office and give them real skills instead, may even see more Zuckerbergs in the future as a result (but hopefully no more Facebooks).  
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10410036/Teaching-our-children-to-code-a-quiet-revolution.html 
 
That said, I know a few on here have kids between 6-16 at school, how do you feel about your kids being forced to learn programming?  
 
[Edited on 08-01-2014 by A2H GO]
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Brett 
Premium Member
 
Registered: 16th Dec 02
 Location: Manchester 
User status: Offline 
 
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I think it's ace. My school didn't even offer IT until after I left. 
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Gary 
Premium Member
 
Registered: 22nd Nov 06
 Location: West Yorkshire 
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Should be a choice at GCSE level.  
 
Great idea though. Times have changed and programming is as important as engineering now. 
 
Should just bin off religious, they'd have the space then.
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A2H GO 
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Registered: 14th Sep 04
 Location: Stoke 
User status: Offline 
 
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quote: Originally posted by Brett 
I think it's ace. My school didn't even offer IT until after I left.  
   
 
Not even normal IT? How old are you?
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A2H GO 
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Registered: 14th Sep 04
 Location: Stoke 
User status: Offline 
 
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quote: Originally posted by Gary 
Should be a choice at GCSE level.  
 
Great idea though. Times have changed and programming is as important as engineering now. 
 
Should just bin off religious, they'd have the space then. 
   
 
Religion, what a waste of time that was, although it was an extra GCSE for basically just turning up to the lessons.  
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VrsTurbo 
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Registered: 8th Jun 10
 
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quote: Originally posted by A2H GO 
quote: Originally posted by Brett 
I think it's ace. My school didn't even offer IT until after I left.  
   
 
Not even normal IT? How old are you? 
   
 
Live's up north they still used slate and chalk up until recently
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pow 
Premium Member
 
Registered: 11th Sep 06
 Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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I'm going to be teaching primary age kids this  
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Kyle T 
Premium Member
 
Registered: 11th Sep 04
 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire 
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I remember in primary school (we had two computers for 300ish kids IIRC) a converted bus used to turn up, with computers in the back of it. 
 
We did really basic conceptual programming back then for stuff like traffic lights and stuff like that. Obviously no language/syntax specifics - but gave you awareness of stuff like IF statements and variables. 
 
I still remember it now, so must have had a positive impact.
 
  Lotus Elise 111R 
 
Impreza WRX STi
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spencer88 
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Registered: 6th Oct 08
 Location: cornwall 
User status: Offline 
 
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Need to be more options like this, as well as other subjects that are going to be useful in either everyday life or as a career. 
 
Whilst complex maths is great, it is not something everyone needs to learn, same as more complex English, Science etc, yet these skills which could easily lead to a job are required, as well as others to teach people how to live!
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JordyCarter 
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Registered: 14th Mar 10
 
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The thing is alot of these kids will actually want to learn this. I got taught basic i.t in year 11 like making a game in powerpoint :s 
 
I was in year 7 or 8 when i started trying to code action script and make cartoons at home, tried learning html and VB but there was no support it was all learning it off the internet. After a while i gave up and just kept playing games xD I would of liked to have learnt this in school 
 
[Edited on 08-01-2014 by JordyCarter]
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dannymccann 
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
 Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire 
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I took no interest whatsoever in IT when I was at school (I'm 26 next month for reference), I remember one of the teachers set up an Excel spreadsheet with various formulae in but all we did was input numbers to get a result, didnt actually look into it. 
 
I dropped it when I had the chance, but it's extremely important these days (depending on what you want to go into). I don't think it should be a mandatory subject though (like English, Maths etc), otherwise you will end up with kids who couldnt GAF disrupting the rest of the lesson (like I did, shamefully) so the genuinely interested don't get the attention they deserve
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A2H GO 
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Registered: 14th Sep 04
 Location: Stoke 
User status: Offline 
 
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I would go as far as to say programming skills (over the next 10 years) are and will be just as important as the core subjects (english, maths & science), given it technically incorporates all three of them. I would argue they always have been it's just more prevalent now with the rise in technology. 
 
The skills are just as much about applying logic, problem solving and understanding objects in the real world as they are about building the next candy crush. 
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Bart 
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Registered: 19th Aug 02
 Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon 
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Id agree Ash. 
 
Basic programming is already taught as mandatory in many schools around the world.  
 
[Edited on 09-01-2014 by Bart]
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