Cracking the code on the new maths syllabus

Edrolo and CS in Schools have partnered up to help secondary schools teach computational thinking in the new VCE Maths syllabus.

The move comes as pseudocode is introduced into the VCE Maths curriculum in Victoria, and generative AI platforms are taking off — with demand in STEM and digital skills continuing to grow.

Pseudocode, a universal coding language, is being taught in VCE Maths Methods and Specialist Maths for the first time in 2023. While students won’t be coding at computers, they will be gaining vital programmatic skills and computational thinking through this change. Edrolo’s partnership with CS in Schools will see it provide video lessons to help students and teachers learn these new skills.

According to Goldman Sachs, artificial intelligence (AI) could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs, and the National Skills Commission’s Skills Priority List 2022 revealed that software and applications programmers are the second most in-demand skills in Australia.

STEM involvement is currently low in Australia, with 10% or less students in Years 11 and 12 studying STEM. Furthermore, Australia is slipping down the international ranking tables as other countries improve. In 2003, four countries or economies significantly outperformed Australia in PISA mathematics. In 2018, that number rose to 23. Around 40% of Australia’s Year 7 to 10 mathematics classes are now taught without a qualified mathematics teacher.

“High-quality educational resources are vital to helping teachers provide the very best learning experiences for every student. The combination of our resources and CS in Schools’ outstanding courses mean we can deliver on helping students and teachers get up to speed and excel,” said Duncan Anderson, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Edrolo.

“The students of today are facing a vastly different future –– one that’s highly digitised, AI-centric and where programming skills are in significant demand. Coding being introduced into the VCE Maths curriculum is a great start and we’re delighted to support it. It is likely to serve as a springboard to driving interest in more extensive coding programs across Australia. This won’t just boost student skills, but provide further positive flow-on effects for Australia’s burgeoning tech sector,” said Hugh Williams, Co-Founder at CS in Schools.

The ability to code, considered a highly prized skill, is said to open doors, boost career success and potentially transform a student’s future. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, coding is “the most important language you can learn”.

Image credit: iStock.com/Izabela Habur