Fundamental Skills in Computer Science
The Chair for Didactics of Computer Science has devised Fundamental Skills in Computer Science, a prioritization of the credentials that constitute a general education in computer science, as they are described, for example, in the recommendations on education standards published by the German Informatics Society (Gesellschaft für Informatik, GI). They address all teachers – regardless of school or subject.
The necessity for this prioritization stems from the demands of teaching in a digital world coupled with a lack of time in teacher training.
The following article explains the origins, structure and evaluation of the Fundamental Skills in Computer Science.
Origins
The Fundamental Skills in Computer Science were developed based on the GI’s recommendations on education standards. As per the prioritization objective, the skills and content were narrowed down and restructured using the following questions as a guide:
- What skills in computer science do teachers require so they can utilize digital media in their lessons now and in the future in their lessons?
- What skills in computer science do teachers require so they can discuss the impact of digitalization on their own subject in lessons?
Figure 1: Drawing on the Fundamental Skills in Computer Science for the GI’s education standards
Structure
The Fundamental Skills in Computer Science have been organized into three content areas with sub-categories (see Figure 2):
- Networked computing systems covers the structure and functionality of hardware and software and also looks at how these systems work together.
- Information and Data summarizes skills related to structuring, encoding, and processing data using IT systems.
- Skills in the Algorithms content area provide a glimpse into programming in addition to identifying and applying algorithms to everyday life.
Since the skills are aimed at teachers of all subjects, cross-curricular aspects are a precondition for their integration in the classroom. For this reason, each content area is framed by computer science, human and social perspectives.
Figure 2: Content areas and sub-categories of the Fundamental Skills in Computer Science
Evaluation
A test tool is being developed with a view to evaluating the teaching of the Fundamental Skills in Computer Science in various teacher training degree programs. This will contain a self-assessment and task-based component.
- Self-assessment component (As of: March 29, 2022)
- Measuring tool featuring self-assessment and task-based components for skills in computer science (As of: December 13, 2022)
- Measuring tool featuring self-assessment and task-based components for skills in computer science (Revised Version | As of: 01.04.2023)
The task-based components are currently being developed and will comprise various types of task as shown here:
