DEJ #7

Why should programming be part of school curriculum?

"In addition, there is also a high volume of projects being
created over the summer months (especially in June and July of 2006) in
the absence of extensive mentoring support. We interpret this as an indication
of the extended and prolonged impact that mentoring support can have
on a programming culture beyond (or at least temporarily beyond) the
weekly visits of the mentors."
　
Many school systems are worried that students lose the content they learned in the previous school year over their summer break. This proves that using different technologies in the classroom can increase interest in content and retention of content, even over the summer months. Today's generations spend a large amount of time playing video games, so if teachers use them in the classroom, the students can still be learning while having fun outside of the classroom.

What are the barriers to implementing programming in schools?

"Researchers like Rogers (1995) have distinguished different phases from
adoption which describes the selection of a technology to diffusion that refers
to more wide-spread use and, finally, integration that illustrates acceptance
in the community of practice."
　
Some older generations fear the implementation of technology. This is one of many barriers that school systems face when implementing technology, especially implementing programming into the classroom. The school system needs the approval of the community. Other factors that effect implementation of programming is money to fund the program and to pay certifiied technology teachers, which are limited.

How can barriers to implementing programming in schools be overcome?

"Realizing that simply providing access to programming
software would be insufficient, we created opportunities for
Clubhouse members to interact with adult mentors who were learning to
program as well."

One of the barriers that school systems have to face to implement programming is finding teachers that have experience with programming. Hopefully, school systems can utilize college interns to mentor young students. Not only have these mentors grown up in a technologically savoy society, but they are at an age that the students will relate to.