A Cognitive Model to Design a Real World Curriculum in Computer Science

A Cognitive Model to design a real world curriculum

in Computer Science

Dr.Virendra Gawande1 and Sarika V.Gawande2

1&2Sur College of Applied Sciences, Ministry of Higher Education,

Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

A comparison was carried out between the Eritrean computer studies curriculum and the Australian computer studies curriculum for sixteen-year old learners. The curriculums were compared on the basis of the different keywords that were used to design the outcomes that learners are required to master. These keywords were compared in terms of Bloom’s taxonomy and categorized according to the different levels. This was done in order to demonstrate that the Eritrean curriculum lacks keywords on the higher levels of thinking. The comparison proves that the higher thinking skills are used more in the Australian curriculum than in the Eritrean one. The researcher proposed a model for use in Computer Studies that will ensure the implication of higher order thinking skills.

Keywords:

Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation, Lower order thinking skills, Higher order thinking skills.

1. Introduction

This research paper is a comparative analysis of the curriculum for Computer studies in Eritrea and Australia, in terms of the extent to which they address various levels on Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956). The two regions are chosen at contrast to each other, as Eritrea (North-East Africa) is a new nation, which is under development, and the Australia which is a developed part of the world. The researcher argues that although the Australian curriculum addresses higher levels than its Eritrean counterpart, both curriculum are essentially mechanical and devoid of real-world relevance.

1.1 Background and context

Computer studies as a course is newly introduced in Eritrean curriculum. The main emphasis of the curriculum is still on theory. Programming is a higher-order cognitive process that requires abstract thinking. Each program...