www.lifhaus.com.sb

You are absolutely right. Technology is moving in a fast pace, especially with software programs. We have two OS in less than two years, and countless computer electronics even week. It amazes me that the government is able to spend money on many things, but can't spend a single cent on second hand computers.

I would suggest that Computer theory is taught in  Form 3 levels while computer foundation (theory and practical) is taught in Form 6 to prepare our students for University. Hem nomoa ba! Government slow tumas.

Indeed it is an urgent issue. 

@conservative, I remember when I went to university - I had been fortunate to have been introduced to computers at an earlier age then most people.  But most of my classmates (SI ones) majored in Computing Science and at uni, it was their first time to even touch a computer.  But we all struggled many sleepless nights...So it is an urgent issue. 

The problem with government is they are so focussed on short term gains that they do not make sacrifices for the long term benefits, at least in my opinion.

It will be an expensive exercise and most governments are more focussed on different priorities.

Having said that, I am taking note as a matter of priority for the new IT group.  That as one of its projects, it should look at innovative ways to taking IT into schools and enabling as many sectors of our communities to appreciate and embrace IT as a development tool.

Thanks for the comments and keep them coming.

Regards,

Yes IT studies should be included in our curriculum since it help students to build up their computer skills and knowledge at yearly age. I have seen many SI students at USP, Laucala campus are having poor typing skills. I have questioned many and they told me that it's their first time to touch computer at university. Day by day, they slowly improve their typing skills as they continue on with their studies. For those taking Computer Science and Information systems, it's pretty tough for them since they have no idea of what these computer concepts are. Therefore, including IT in our curriculum would be much more helpful for our computer science students to excell not only that but our USP SI students at large.

Thanks so much for such initiatives, hope for a chance soon.
Cheers

Yes that notion is fully supported; however resourcing schools with computers and teachers is a challenge plus safe keeping. Our state school KGIV could have taken the lead had not computers stolen over time. Now computer studies course is already part of PSSC (Form 6 curriculum) and there are only one or two schools offering this subject (computer studies). For our National curriculum, I heard that too about taking into account basic computing knowledge and skills, however, the review has taken its time and as mentioned by others things might have changed now.

Start early is better.

F1- get them have the feel of computer. Playing around with KB/, mouse, Boot Up, Shut Down.. etc all the basics stuff you might think off. Why Computer?

F2- What is Ram. Rom, HD, etc? The components of a computer....Basic in here.

F3- First programming lessons, simple and basic. Use C++ or java.

F4- We taught the notion of  logic and algorithms simple stuff not detail coz that wud be cumbersome AND relate with programming.

F5- continous step by step on preceding steps (F3 and F4)

F6- PSSC

F7 - Hook up with Basic foundation CS, maybe the use of Java....So our STUDENTS no problem already got the knowledge.

UNI----------> Ma how moa, boss ba flow na time write code...

" This is just my view"

Bushboy, you sound like you studied at USP! (C++ and Java :-). Good ideas. Don't forget operating systems though. One big hole in IT curriculums is teaching students what an operating system is, and how they work. Linux is really useful here because all aspects of the operating system can be accessed, and the code that drives it can be looked at (kernel source). Also, students can be shown what different kernels do (i.e, realtime v. standard), how drivers work, and how to monitor and tweak kernel performance. Learn to build custom kernels too. They can be shown how stable an operating system can be, and how to choose different operating systems for different jobs.

Another thing that could be taught is command line scripting. I use grep / sed / awk etc. all the time at work to manipulate lists and log files. All the hard core Window$ users around me wouldn't have a clue how to solve problems like sorting a list of user names and looking for the duplicates in the list. Anyway, some ideas.

It is sad that Micro$oft has trained a whole generation of computer users to put up with having to reboot their operating system and expect viruses just because they think that Windoze is the only operating system out there. Boo Micro$oft.

Good ideas Bush, but you don't have to begin with the Java and C++ in High School. Basic computing classes should prepare our students:  familiarized with computer components, understand Internet Infrastructure, the World Wide Web, the History of the Internet, the History of Computer Science, the basic Operating Systems and their functions. How computer communicate with each other, etc.

Then the internal parts of the computer. I suggest that forms 5 and 6 learn Intermediate IT skills. You pointed out earlier the needs to for our high school students to learn the basic components of the Personal Computer (PC). The HD, RAM, Processor, how to install and uninstall hardwares, how to turn a PC on and off, and how to remove the covers. The functions of each hardware, the difference between a driver and a hardware (Software and Hardware), and how they work together to give life to the PC. The mother board, the form factors, etc. These are basic IT skills you need to know if you want to be computer savvy when you get to Uni. Computer Scientists now adays are strongly encouraged to take IT certification because some programmers are so wrapped up in the language of the computer that they give little attention to the Hardware part of the computer, especially the newly modified stuff. Atleast A+ (CompTIA) certification. Students who want to study Computer Science, in my view, should study basic Java and alternate C++ taim kasem F 6. If our form 6 students are required to take foundation Calculus at F 6, why not basic Java, HTML or XML, and some C++? our education system needs serious overhaul. I don't see these fields as far from our capability because F6 Science covers foundation areas in Physics and Math (Pre-calculus) that are also useful in Computer Science studies.

Besides, programming is just one part of Computers. Theres the Information Systems and Techology, web designing to because this is an insanely fast moving fields in the field of Computer technology etc. Staka tumas. We need to explore all these opportunities. As I wrote here before, we have enough Math, English, and History teachers! is time we explore the field of Computer Technology.

On the News: new information about the new Domain Name System came out and scientists have already speculated that the the new system maybe quite complicated as the DNS we use today, but Vint Cerf who is working hard on developing a new system the IP6 assures people that the transition will not be that hard, but it will depend on those executing the new system. He urged people to act now (this is a letter he sent to the ICANN in 2007). This evening he was quoted encouraging those in the global networking industry to start acting now. This news got many in America and Europe all alarmed as almost all electronics in every household is connected to the internet, even gaming systems such as xbox, PS 2&3, Wii, Gamebox... etc. all connected to the internet. Phone Iines and Internet moderm are all integretted, Cellphones, PDAs, and other gadgets that have internet capabilities an many used IP to communicate with computers world wide. A failure to quickly act on the new DNS may affect everything in the next two years. Just thought I put that out there.

Have a great week olketa wantoks

You guys are talking far beyond what is required for a secondary school first timer kid. Dont bombard the kid with all that C++ & Java, DNS stuff yet. They only need the computer basics for a start and then the course can be slowly improved to accomodate those tech stuffs.. They only need to know how to use a computer, what's inside the computer, their basic functions and simple applications (MS Office or Open Office). Computing Studies is not only about programming. You cannot expect all schools to own computers now... That would need a lot of money - computers costs, proper storage rooms, power, maintenance & support etc.. they all require money.. Schools dont have that much money.. Govt bata luk aot selen from Iran yet...

Why not slowly introduce them as optional courses in forms 4 upwards for a start, doing more theories is no harm for a start. We have to think from the business side of this as well. Otherwise introduing computer studies at schools will be delayed until the Govt gets funds somewhere (maybe this time from Iraq or Afghanistan) which will take ages. We want to start say by 2011.. Give the forms 5 & 6 the theories with some hands on (if they already have computers) otherwise they'll do all the hands-on stuff in form 7 since USP center have computers.. Kanse nao, iumi born lo Solo so... we only need to model the course curriculum according to our capacity. we shouldn't expect a model elsewhere to work here. We design our own curriculum relevant for us, but with the aim to get up there in the near future.

Net-Surfer,

We are not talking about kids here. The target of this thread is to debate ideas on how to explore technology far beyond just the usual High School syllabus. If you read our postings carefully you will understand what we suggested so far. We dont have to teach computer science to grade 1-6. Our target are Form 1-3, 4-5 and 6. I suggested that we start computer theory at form 1-3, intermediate IT (which involves basic computer skills, theory and hands on) for forms 4 and 5. And foundation Computing Class in Form 6, esp. for those who want to be Computer Scientists. As I've said before, if our form 6 students are bombarded with Physics and pre-Calculus in Form 6, I don't know whats the big fuzz if basic computer science classes are taught to those who need them.

We don't have ot be so sophisticated or expected our highschools to have computers for each student. One or two computers for high schools will do. Have students take turns etc. I remember in the my High School (f 4-5), we used to take turns on three microscope. 15 students sharing three microscopes wasn't a big deal. Why not giving each high school two or three comptuters? 

I also disagree with your argument because this is why Solomon Islands never moved forward. The idea that we have a certain level of capability is quite wrong. Human beings are capable of pretty much anything, the ones that should enabled that capability are our leaders by supporting our schools, and staka time olketa no care. The idea that our government is running out of money is bull crap! We need the right leaders to lead, the ones that donot pocket millions of dollars supplied by Taiwan for computers for school... speaking of that, do you have any idea where the computers worth $4,000,000 went? A local company and our government were linked to this scam, any update? I guess we need the the leaders with the right priority.

To design a "curriculum relevant for us" should also mean, go back long village and waka long garden, werem kabilato, and dans raon long fire. Thats what we know better, but you are wrong again. We are adopting a British education system, modified to fit Australia and NZ system, studying American History, the Cold Wars, Arms Race, history of Conflicts.... we have our students studying scientific theories developed by Newton, and political scientists studying government science developed by Aristotle and Plato, on and on and on. Our Education system wasn't created for what was relevant for us, but rather what are relevant for our adopted system, in our post-colonial country known as SI. If people like up think we are not as good as Australians, NZlanders, or Europeans, then how the heck do we want good medical carea for? Why are we trying to send doctors to Cuba? Why not just resort to "witchcraft and Witch-Doctor?" my point is that education is a field that has no limit and the reason why our capability falls behind world standard is because our leaders just don't know what the hell is going on! They are willing to push through a legislation that will pay their arses when they left Parliament and with an entitlement of $100,000, an increase from $50,000 (50% increase) and a Spousal (those who don't do crap for the country) wages of $50,000, and are willing to spend millions on commissions investigating futile things, why not investing in the future human resources of SI? 

Learn from Singapore. One of the few Asian nations with a very unusual history and the way they came out of it was quite interesting also. Singaporeans who were studing overseas were determined to break Singapore away from Malaysia and to form an independent nation. Critics already declare that Singapore would never made it far if it broke away from Malaysia considering its poor human and natural resources, but it took a few brilliant leaders to turn Singapore into one of the most prosperous nations in Asia. One of the countries that emerged from colonialism to compete in the world stage. Well, you might say that is Asia, we are far from their level, that is not true either! Solomon Islands and Singapore have post-colonial problems that were quite identical, Solomon Islands was way too good for Singapore in terms of natural resources, but our leaders were as dumb as ours today! We were given a huge sum of money by the UK government, enough to develop Solomon Islands to a very competitive level, but we chose to play with it. We had a period of 20+ years where political power struggle drained our treasury, followed by eight years of fighting to gain control of lands... etc etc etc. We need to invest on our education sector; overhaul our current education system etc if you want a better Solomon Islands.

Yufala moa

There is no need to spend lots of money on computer equipment to support a computing curriculum. There are lots of overseas organisations that will supply for next to nothing piles of old computer equipment. Why not start a course where there is a big pile of parts the students have to put together, then load the operating system (Linux of course!), then build a network that has workstations, database, DNS, web server, file server and mail server. I spent years mucking around in my shed with a pile of old $20 (ozi) computers doing just that. Lots of problem solving involved. Lots of having to understand what services and networks are, and how they plug together. This gives real life skills and real life troubleshooting experience. Much less likely that some young bukkas will kam steal too. Also, many more students will be able to get their hands on computers and understand how they really work (learning how to use Micro$oft Office does not teach you how computers work!). Once the network has been built, programming can then be introduced that would be relevant - web page scripting, database integration, client/server programming, shell scripting to manage servers. I would love to work on a teaching program such as this (I used to tutor Java and C++ at USP Honiara, and I loved that too!!).

@Conversation, that's a very long list of ideas and they may be all true. Just clarified some thoughts I contributed that you interpeted them differently.
1. I am the one who initiated this discussion so I know what I am talking about. I am refering to kids at secondary schools, see my writing (forms 4 upwards). You interpret it to primary school kids.
2. How do you know a whole class of students will understand programming languages with 2 computers. How many hours do you spend in front of your computer when you started learning programming?
3. I mentioned we design a curriculum according to our capacity, meaning what tools & resources we have now, you interpret it to our capability...??? two different words
4. I mentioned we design something relevant for us, meaning our capacity, you interpret it to traditional living, kabilato and all that crap... and the knowledge to learn.. cant get the point from all your writings.

Unless you are an educationist you dont know what I am talking about. You are talking more from a technologist point of view. My whole point is start simple and slowly move upwards. Sounds logical!!

@Nick, I agree with you. A lot of that stuff are free, I know that. But I mentioned in my writing computer costs is not the only cost. What about electricity (generator, solar, etc), building secure rooms for the computers, what about support & maintenance of the computers, what about teaching the teachers what to teach, etc. In Solo, when we think about a school, it means designing something also relevant for schools in the rural areas, maybe no power.

cheers

@Nick & @Conservative, I understand you are high tech geeks, but do we have to teach those tech stuff at the high schools? I thought building computers, installing OS, troubleshooting, programming & scripting is far too much. We are only trying to bridge in knowledge so it can fit in well with the existing Form 7 IT courses offered at USP. All those tech practical stuff can be best left aside for our vocational schools, or give them to IT Solutions, SICHE, etc. (Not every student will take CS, IS or IT as their major)

.."learning how to use Micro$oft Office does not teach you how computers work".. This is very true, but learning how a computer works does not prepare you for your office job (for school levers) or further studies, every offices reports and student assignments need to be done in Word, Excel, etc generally for any student (not only a IT student).

I understand you guys have a lot of knowledge in these, but these are to be taught by the teachers to the students. How competent are our teachers to teach such high tech stuff to the students? We have a lot of secondary schools in the rural areas, let's not only think of KGVI or any other schools in Honiara. Let's help the existing teachers to do their jobs properly, just give them the basics for a start, and I agree with Net-Surfer. We will slowly get there with the new breed of teachers who are graduating from Uni's now.

Calm down guys!

I really appreciate your responds/comments on my contribution above. It seems that we have good thinkers and people that desires best for their country.

I would like to thank Nick for your help in tutoring our USp students. I'm really impressed. From my experience, I know student's really find it hard to learn programming. Its happening everywhere. Solomon students i believe will really find it a bit more difficult esp in programming because students are not getting themselves ready at earlier stages in high school. Remember. sooner the better.

I'm sorry to hear that someone has said that java and C++ dont have to be taught in high school. Come on wake up! I have been visiting 7 schools for the last couple of weeks observing their performances on java programming. I'm impressed to see this kid doing good. So if this kids can, why not ours? There's no reason why java and C++ should be taught in high school. Maybe if not we could try python. The first language i learn when i was 12. A good one to start wif aswell.

"Sorry for my bad english"

@Bushboy, I dont think anyone rules out programming in high schools. The idea was to start with the basics now and introduce those python, C++, java stuff when the right time comes - right time meaning when all schools have their computers, competent teachers to teach them, etc. If the govt can afford computers, storage rooms, equip teachers, next year then for sure, throw in all that stuff next year. I assume the schools you have visited are ones within the urban areas. We are trying to discuss a national curriculum here, something that suits all schools including the ones in the rural areas? However, it is no harm for urban center schools to take the lead in this as they have more advantages than rural schools.

Keep those ideas coming....

I think we start at our own pace slowly but surely. From my 3 years experience working with IT stuff and people in Honiara and in the rural villages i find a common obstacle in the way some people approach this. The common obs i notice is FEAR of the word computer itself. And that has been my experience as well. FYI i have had no formal class on this field of studies in my education from class 1 to F7 before I enroll in my first year deg program.

My approach on this is firstly i work around with my trainee to overcome the fear in them before we go into theory or any actual hands on.

So i take @net-surfer to start with the basics of this field and leave pseudocode, syntax for a higher grades. I dont what the curriculum to instill yet another fear in our primary or secondary students. Teaching them with preparatory knowledge [Theory]of this studies would be enough for a start and slowly add on as we go up higher.

@conservative what works in another society is not grantee to work in another.
@nick solomon Islands should be a dumping ground, computer are nowadays are household utilities $ slashes down

As far as rural areas go / associated power problems, the One Laptop Per Child programme that was launched in Morovo seemed to go well - I haven't heard any update lately, but these were really cheap laptops that run on wind-up power (yep, crank the handle and they go).

I am working on another idea at the moment for cheap computers for Solo (especially after that shameful Antek computer fiasco - I still want to know who is going to be prosecuted over that!). Ex government computers (just like the one I am using at work at the moment) are decommsioned when they run out of warranty. They have their hard drives removed, and are then sold at auction by the pallet load at absolutely cheap prices. All they need is a hard drive, OS loaded, and away  you go. The good thing about these too is that you can buy them by the hundreds, and all the same machine, so easy to swap out parts and maintain them.  I working on it!!!

Yes, we start with the basic! We start small. No one can dispute this notion.

We build a house from foundation up.

This is phenomenal. Guys, the curriculum we are talking about must be modeled carefully. The foundation must be able to accomodate the child's understanding from relevant conceipts in Computing Step by step. What ever the conceipts taught right from F1 - F7 but pliz donot forget to include some programming in it. I leave it to you wantoks to think about the way you can modeled the disntinct distributions of computer concepits right from F1 - F7.

Anyways, i'm talking too much about programming. And the need for it to be introduced in our curriculum. My point is simple. The sooner the better. It is you guys to look at how this can be fit in - in the newly emerged curriculum.

I'm agree with the step nick take and on my part i will always try in anyway. Thanks Nick for your good heart and i'm proud you trying to help Solo. Thumbs Up.

Net Surfer, you always have good tots. when that "right time" comes remember programming don not forget your doors foot step. Give him a go.

I'm looking forword for some good SI programmers in the near future. And i will always glad that they are products from controversies here in the lihaus forum.

I met up with a USP lecturer during his tour to Japan july 20th, - where i was working, and he told me about the problems they have encounter with PIC students in the field of CS. Their school of math & computing now looking at how PIC countries can contribute in handling  this issue with USP.

Hope you guys start to see why i'm talking too much about this programming thing.

Many greetings to u all.

Keep on giving your ideas.

"Instructing a machine to do what is beneficial to humanity is a million times better than wealth and riches itself" - kM

"

I can see if this is to start with costs in mind..Linux and Open source softwares are the way to go...should point the right directions to the new comers from start...don't let people fall in the pits of microsoft before we tell them that they could have avoided it by going OPEN...."why do we need windows when we live in a world without walls"...BTW this website is also supported by an open source software...

And to start such an IT skill programme will need something that will not help to pass infections around such as the expensive windows OS does. When you get a free cracked Windows OS even worst...risk levels are no longer "micro" and not "soft" either...

you get better perfomance from Linux too...

Let me sum up the discussions so far and hope the guys at the Curriculum division read this.

1. Study the contents of the foundation (form 7) courses at USP and simplify or break this down, putting in more theories and less (or no) practs - year 2011. There may not be enough computers for all schools come 2011 but let the theories begin. The Form 7 IT courses content should be our starting point and guide to design what our earlier forms should learn, but with more simplicity and basics.

2. Further simplify this form 6 IT course down and introduce them in forms 4 & 5 - 2012

3. Continue simplify the courses further down to the lower forms each year until it reaches form 1.

4. At the end of each year as of 2011 onwards, evaluate and where necessary improve the course contents.

5. Since we may lack some vital resources (computers, enough teachers, etc) introduce more basic theories, less (or no) practs, but with continual evaluation and improvements. Prospective IT Students should be fairly equipped for their Form 7 IT units as of 2012 onwards.

Let's give the curriculum division the whole of 2010 to work on this otherwise delegate this task to the SI IT Association!

With this, the curriculum division and SI IT Association are now well informed!

Not enough computers? Well, what we could do is get an aid donor to put up $5 million and we could get a local supplier to supply lots of computers to schools and then we would all..... aaaaaahhh, maybe not. Much better that all the kids don't get their hands on computers. They might all start competing for computer supply contracts (they know where the money is!!)

I kid you not. I was talking to an employee from a local computer company that sounds like tech with ants in it and he told me that the main problem was that there was not enough computers in schools (this was only a few months ago). Bwah hah hah hah hah hah!!!!!