**4. Computer science education in curricula**

Computational Ecology is using numerical models and computer simulations in researches regarding dynamics of populations and systems. There are studied tendencies and specificities for a better understanding and prognosis in areas such as fisheries, forestry, agriculture,

Ecosystems are living systems that are formed and evolves in years, decades, hundreds or thousands of years. Consequently, experiments in the classical conception of scientific experiment in order to understand the dynamics and evolution of ecosystems are difficult or even impossible

Computing Ecology through powerful research tools provided by mathematical models and computer aided simulations, software systems able to analyze large amounts of data gathered in situ, enables understanding of phenomena and processes occurring and enables elaborat-

This newly emerged science is of great importance in the heavily industrialized contemporary society, where the ecological disasters caused by various agents have become very

Computational Toxicology is another new emerged science, correlated with computational

It was officially mentioned for the first time in September 2009 when the National Research Council Committee on Use of Emerging Science for Environmental Health Decisions held a public meetings titled "Computational Toxicology: From Data to Analyses to

Computational Toxicology offers the opportunity to study and forecast, based on mathematical models and computer-aided simulation, the harmful effects that various toxic pollutants

The new emerged science brings substantial scientific contribution in a field in which experimental research are extremely harmful for the environment and humans. For this reason, experiments have to be replaced with computer-assisted simulations based on mathematical

Exo-meteorology is a new emerged scientific and research field which is studying the meteo-

Field of research could not exist in the absence of computer science. Computerized systems are needed both in the collection and storage of data, as well as for their processing and inter-

Forecasts elaborated by this newly emerging science are important in planning space mis-

rological phenomena that take place on other planets existing our solar system [10].

climate change and evolutionary ecology [8].

144 Science Education - Research and New Technologies

ing predictions regarding the evolution of ecosystems.

or sources may have on the environment, humans and animals.

models, without danger for humans, animals and environment.

pretation and for the elaboration of forecasts.

to carry out.

common.

Applications" [9].

**3.4. Exo-Meteorology**

sions [11].

**3.3. Computational Toxicology**

ecology and environmental protection.

As we have seen in the previous chapters, in the context of actual science and society evolution, the goal of computer science education is to prepare actual students, future specialists, to work and think at the intersection between computer science and other scientific fields.

Considering that the in almost all scientific fields are used computer-assisted modeling and simulations, it is essential for future researchers to be familiar with algorithmic thinking and computer science. In addition, the barriers that arise during interdisciplinary and transdisicplinary research activities, mentioned in previous chapters, represent another important reason for approaching an interdisciplinary manner in teaching computer science, using examples and applications from other disciplines or from the world around us.

In the Romanian educational system, at all levels of education, curricula contain computer science education with multiple goals:


In order to attain these objectives in teaching computer science, in the Romanian education, one has been made remarkable progress in the last 17 years, both in terms of technical endowment and in terms of improving the school curricula:


The Romanian education curricula take into consideration more categories of competencies:


At the fifth grade level, the European key competencies that need to be developed throughout the course information and communication technology are:


Consistent with these European key competencies, the competencies established by the Education Law in Romania are as follows:


To ensure the interdisciplinary study of computer science, the curriculum recommends: "For the good development classes and curriculum implementation, to correlate is recommended teaching activities of other subjects studied the content" [12].

The main topics of the computer science curricula (Computer Literacy) at the fifth grade are:


At high school level, the curricula provide differentiated study of computer science, according to the high school profile:


In Romania, the school curricula for computer science education provide both teaching hours and laboratory hours.

For high school, profile humanities, computer science education, consist in Computer Literacy (general) and Desktop Publishing.

On the other hand, for high school profiles real (science) and computer science, there are hours of algorithms, computer literacy, computer programming course in C++ or Pascal and laboratory courses.

During the programming courses (C++ or Pascal), there are taught concepts like:


Consistent with these European key competencies, the competencies established by the

To ensure the interdisciplinary study of computer science, the curriculum recommends: "For the good development classes and curriculum implementation, to correlate is recommended

The main topics of the computer science curricula (Computer Literacy) at the fifth grade are:

At high school level, the curricula provide differentiated study of computer science, according

In Romania, the school curricula for computer science education provide both teaching hours

For high school, profile humanities, computer science education, consist in Computer Literacy

On the other hand, for high school profiles real (science) and computer science, there are hours of algorithms, computer literacy, computer programming course in C++ or Pascal and

During the programming courses (C++ or Pascal), there are taught concepts like:

• Digital skills to use information technology as a tool for learning and knowledge

Education Law in Romania are as follows:

146 Science Education - Research and New Technologies

• Competence of learning to learn [12].

• Social and civic competences

• Basic computer hardware

• Windows

• Microsoft Word

to the high school profile:

• Powerpoint

• Humanities

• Real (science)

• Arts and crafts

• Computer science

and laboratory hours.

laboratory courses.

• Operators

• Data types and variables

• Simple instructions

(general) and Desktop Publishing.

• Paint

• Basic skills in mathematics, science and technology

teaching activities of other subjects studied the content" [12].


During the laboratory courses, students develop their own computer programs applying concepts learned in the classroom.

Involving students during the laboratory classes in interdisciplinary projects like:


stimulates the development of interdisciplinary skills of the students.

Working organized in teams on projects such as those mentioned above, students are challenged to develop their critical thinking, analytical skills and abilities:


The students have to analyze and determine what information from the selected scientific field that will take in the information system (theoretical concepts, exercises, tests for assessing knowledge).

They should consider how they will present the information in the software system in order to be easily accessible for the final user.

Students have to design and implement interfaces between the user and the computer system, students must show creativity and develop their creativity, and they have to know concepts regarding ergonomics of man-machine interfaces.

They design and implement computer-assisted exercises, quizzes and tests and evaluation algorithms for the verification of the acquired knowledge.

Through these projects, students are challenged to research and development of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge of various fields merging computer science and other school disciplines, depending on the project and on students own preferences.

In addition, the teamwork activity forces them to develop their communication skills, collegiality, adaptability and other skills needed for teamwork, skills required also as future professionals who will need to integrate into a team of interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary research.

Under this manner, teaching computer science is done in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary way, which encourages students not only to study strictly the discipline of computer science but also encourages them to expand their knowledge in other scientific fields in order to develop their software projects during the laboratory hours.

Another extremely challenging exercise for students, which we use in teaching the chapter regarding computer structure (computer hardware), is to identify the various components of a computer in other devices that run based on computer programs and computational systems:


Students are encouraged to identify for each case what would be the input unit, the output unit, whether the device is equipped with external memory or not and what would be their role and what would be the role of command and control unit. Such students are encouraged to think about a computer device in the context of another domain (medical, telecommunication, oil and appliances), helping them to develop their interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking ability.

We have used these methods for teaching computer science in many schools throughout time and every time which have given very good results. Students have very good results informatics Olympiads and competitions, and some of them, who have followed careers in computer science, have integrated very well on the job.

At academic level, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity of computer science education are reflected in the large offer of masters or doctoral programs and academic courses that universities offer their students on various interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary areas:


Through these projects, students are challenged to research and development of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge of various fields merging computer science and

In addition, the teamwork activity forces them to develop their communication skills, collegiality, adaptability and other skills needed for teamwork, skills required also as future professionals who will need to integrate into a team of interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary research. Under this manner, teaching computer science is done in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary way, which encourages students not only to study strictly the discipline of computer science but also encourages them to expand their knowledge in other scientific fields in order

Another extremely challenging exercise for students, which we use in teaching the chapter regarding computer structure (computer hardware), is to identify the various components of a computer in other devices that run based on computer programs and computational

Students are encouraged to identify for each case what would be the input unit, the output unit, whether the device is equipped with external memory or not and what would be their role and what would be the role of command and control unit. Such students are encouraged to think about a computer device in the context of another domain (medical, telecommunication, oil and appliances), helping them to develop their interdisciplinary and transdisci-

We have used these methods for teaching computer science in many schools throughout time and every time which have given very good results. Students have very good results informatics Olympiads and competitions, and some of them, who have followed careers in com-

At academic level, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity of computer science education are reflected in the large offer of masters or doctoral programs and academic courses that uni-

versities offer their students on various interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary areas:

other school disciplines, depending on the project and on students own preferences.

to develop their software projects during the laboratory hours.

• Devices to monitoring patients in hospitals

puter science, have integrated very well on the job.

• Fuel pump from gas stations

148 Science Education - Research and New Technologies

• Washing machine

• Other similar systems

plinary thinking ability.

• Computational Biology,

• Computational Biochemistry

• Computational Geometry

• Computational Bioengineering

• Mobile phones

systems:


All these <<computational X>> [13] programs and courses at academic level are in close correlation with the new emerging scientific and research fields, in order to train specialists for the respective fields.

In addition, these interdisciplinary programs or courses, based on computer science, contribute significantly to removing some of the barriers involved in interdisciplinary research, we have mentioned in the previous chapters. Students trained in two or more different scientific fields, as future professionals working on interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research projects could more easily overcome with the difficulties raised by cultural barriers, methodological barriers or knowledge barriers.
