Why teaching informatics in schools is as important as teaching mathematics and natural sciences

  • Authors:
  • Juraj Hromkovič;Björn Steffen

  • Affiliations:
  • Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Switzerland;Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

  • Venue:
  • ISSEP'11 Proceedings of the 5th international conference on Informatics in Schools: situation, Evolution and Perspectives
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

In this paper, we aim to do more than arguing that informatics is a fascinating scientific discipline with interesting applications in almost all areas of everyday life. We pose the following questions: What are the educational requirements demanded from school subjects? Can we answer this question as satisfactory as we can do it, for instance, for mathematics, physics or chemistry? Does the teaching of informatics enrich education in ways other subjects cannot or do not sufficiently contribute? Answering the questions above can not only be helpful for the discussion with politicians about integrating proper informatics and not only ICT skills in the educational systems, but it can also help us as teachers to focus on the fundamentals and on sustainable knowledge.