This course is no longer offered

20529 Topics in Computer Science Education

Credits: 4 advanced credits in Computer Science

Prerequisites: At least 36 credits in Computer Science courses including Data Structures and Introduction to Algorithms (or Data Structures), Automata and Formal Languages, Algorithmics: The Foundations of Computer Science; and one of the following: Software Engineering with Ada, Prolog and Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Programming with Java. Students must fulfill all English requirements. Seminar enrollment is subject to written approval of the faculty member responsible for seminars.

Objectives: To address several topics which provide a broad and in-depth perspective of the field and are usually not taught in undergraduate degree programs in computer science; To present and discuss problems that have arisen in CS teaching and to offer solutions and approaches for dealing with them; To learn about CS curricula in Israel and abroad, on the academic and high school level.

The course is recommended for teachers of CS who are interested in expanding their knowledge, for prospective teachers about to complete their Computer Science bachelor’s degree or who have a degree in CS. The course is also offered to those interested in the topics below, most of which are not studied in undergraduate CS programs.

Topics:1 History in a nutshell; What is computer science? Curricula in computer science; Teachers of computer science; Topics in computer science instruction; Innovative approaches to CS teaching.

Structure: The course is based on a collection of articles and a study guide. Students are required to participate in tutorials, submit a seminar paper and present the paper orally.


1Topics may change.