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Academics and stakeholders in education from various institutions recently convened at the University of Botswana (UB) Conference Centre to share insight on global trends in computing education and future directions.

Participants also discussed the overarching objective of the Computing Curricula 2020 initiative, as well as effective strategies for introducing computer science to students in Botswana.

Speaking during the public lecture, Eastern Institute of Technology, New Zealand and Co-Chair of Computing Curricula 2020: Paradigms Computing Education, Professor Alison Clear, said the overall goal of the newly completed international computing curricula was to produce a modern replacement for Computing Curricula 2005 document by the end of 2020.

Professor Clear further observed that the curricula also embraced computing as a unifying term and competency, symbolising both the future and the foundational principles of all computing disciplines. She highlighted its development of modern visualisation techniques to represent computing competency, enabling the creation of interactive computing tools beneficial for academia and industry alike.

She added that the report covered all the areas of computing and was global in its intention. She also said the report also analysed the seven (7) discipline areas of computing that currently comprise Associate for Computing Machinery (ACM) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers- Computer Science (IEEE-CS).

Professor Clear indicated that the seven (7) areas of computing covered by the report included Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Data Science, Information System and Information Technology.

She said the move towards computer-based learning championed the combination of knowledge, skills and disposition in context. It also aimed for more rounded applicable and professional education, she added.

Professor Clear further noted that competency-based education was a major shift in school culture, structures and pedagogy focused on ensuring that every student succeeded and addressed fundamental shortcomings of the traditional model.

The industry, she observed, wanted students with elements of professional knowledge such as collaboration and teamwork, good written communication, good oral communication, problem solving and troubleshooting besides time management.

In addition, she explained that in developing a curriculum, they were cognisant of the industry into which the students were going work.

Acting Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Maria Nnyepi, said the lecture came at a time when the nation was going through curriculum changes. She said the lecture presented a good opportunity for Botswana to look into digital literacy.

Professor Nnyepi underscored the importance of engaging on issues of competency-based pedagogy. Therefore, she highlighted that on a day-to-day basis they engaged with technology hence it was important to have a comprehensive way of teaching students technology to help improve their lives.