Telling Stories with Data

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Telling Stories with Data: The Most Common Job In Every State

One of the major themes in Computer Science Principles is Data. This interactive map shows how jobs have changed throughout the years. It is a great example of how visualizations ...

Home - Mid Summer Roundup

I am home for about 5 days before my next trek up to New York to work on the AP Computer Science MOOC.

In the past week I traveled from NYC to Boston for the CSTA annual conference, then on to Las Vegas for the APCS Principles Pilot II training and the AP National Conference.

Vector River Map From Flowing Data

In other words, my brain is full, but full of good things.

Unless you have been wilderness camping for the last 6 months you may have noticed a few things going on in computer science education.

I'll be posting more details about all of these projects soon, but some highlights:

• Code.org - http://www.code.org/  - There's the video, which everyone should see. They are also building up some great advocacy resources, worth a look. Plus, I got to have dinner with Hadi and Pat. So exciting to have incredible people committed to computer science education. They are a huge part of the interest in computer science education right now. 

• Computer Science Education Week -  http://www.csedweek.org/ - Do you have your plans yet? Dec 8 - 14th, better get on it.

• Expanding Computing Education Pathways - http://expandingcomputing.cs.umass.edu/ - "Alliance seeks to increase the number and diversity of students in the pipeline to computing and computing-intensive degrees by supporting state-level computing education reforms." I got to attend a great workshop from ECEP at CSTA National lest week - really exciting momentum. I am especially glad to hear more about the role of community colleges in preparing our kids.

• Exploring Computer Science -  http://www.exploringcs.org/ - They are coming to Washington DC, and I am really hoping to attend a training in the next year. I got to do a PD workshop with them at CSTA, and hands down the best PD I have attended. One of those where you walk away going "Well, the last 16 years of my career have been nice, but now I know how to make it better."

• Hour of Code -  http://www.csedweek.org/ - they are asking folks to organize to give beginners 1 hour of code for every one of the country's 55 million school children...ideas? Let me know!

• http://sitwithme.org/ - "Sometimes you have to sit to take a stand. Sit With Me invites you to validate and recognize the important role women play in creating future technology by taking a small but symbolic action: sit in a red chair and share your story." 

Whew! I know I am forgetting things. It has been a jam-packed summer. Please drop me a line to tell me what is going on in your neck of the woods for computer science education. 

How does Computer Science fit with No Screens Week

You know how we all have that one Facebook friend, the one that is all granolier than thou about everything? I recently got into one of those discussions about kids and screens.

No screen week is April 29 - May 5 this year.

We are not a big TV family. I spent a good chunk of my childhood in Germany where we had one channel that showed American soap operas, but totally out of order. So TV was never a big thing for me. I just don't like the passive consumption of that much media, especially for small kids.

We currently do not have cable, and the kids watch in short spurts using Netflix. So we usually celebrate no-screens week at our house by turning of Netflix for a week and spending a few more minutes outside with the chickens.

Some things have changes in the last year. My girls are now 10 and 12. They have Kindle Fires and my oldest saved up this fall to buy her own Chromebook this fall. Technically these are all screens...so what to do?

After much discussion we have decided to draw a line between consuming and creating with technology. No Goodluck Charlie or Webkins, but CodeAcademy is OK. For us the kids are outside running around plenty, so more fresh air really isn't the point.

But is does make me think about the role of computer science in our relationships with screens. For too many kids in our country their entire relationship with screens is a passive one. Really, that is the magic of computer science. Like any art, it takes you from being a consumer of a product and puts you on stage as a creator.

And really, that is the point. With computer science, the screen becomes a tool for expression. There is a huge power in that.

Computer Science In the News

Each week my computer science students do discussion board posts that respond to current events. Here are some stories that caught my eye this week.

• Why Mr. Morris Lessmore's Creators Told Their Story App-First - This one is interesteing. Rather than start with a book then build an app, these folks started with the app. Nice look at how computer science is changing storytelling.
• Here is the full short film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
• Launch of Nokia's $20 phone begs question: Is one mobile enough? - This one would be good for discussion board questions. Despite assumptions about Digital Natives I still have a lot of kids without phones. I am curous to hear their thoughts.
• 3-D Printed Body Parts, Finally! - This one is both snappy and a bit creepy.
• The 16-Year-Old Who Created A Cheap, Accurate Cancer Sensor Is Now Building A Tricorder With Other Genius Kid - Kids doing amazing things 

ToDo List

OK, this is one of those weeks where I am lucky to eat lunch, never mind sitting down to eat. Lots of good stuff, but busy!

So here are some of the things I plan on catching up on:

• Will.i.am on the Internet of things
• Software Predicts Tomorrow’s News by Analyzing Today’s and Yesterday’s
• Commentary: U.S. kids need computer-science education - interesting take on immigration policy and the need for computer science education
• These APCS GridWorld exercises look really interesting.

Google Science Fair Winners

Google just awarded their Science Fair 2012 awards. The grand prize winner was Brittany Wenger from Florida. She won $50,000 scholarship, an internship and a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Not too shabby.

Her project focused on breast cancer detection. She wrote a program in Java that analyzed large data sets from the cloud looking for patterns.

"For Wenger, one of the highlights of the experience was meeting famed computer scientist Vint Cerf, who talked with her at length about computer science and neural networks."

Google's site also has some materials for teachers interested in the competition.

Marissa Meyer - Nine Lessons Learned about Creativity at Google

This is a talk given at the Stanford's Entrepreneurial Thought Leader's podcast by Marissa Meyer, new CEO at Yahoo back in 2006.

The talk is 48 minutes total, and they have it broken down into ten video clips. These would make great prompts for student discussion boards.

Of course as a high school computer science teacher this news is very exciting. She is a very visible and successful computer science major. All the news buzz about her balancing work and family have been a bit overdone in the media, buy for the girls in our classes it is great to see this conversation play out on such a large stage.

Five Things YOU Can Do To Help Computer Science Education

This week Time magazine ran an article: Can We Fix Computer Science Education in America? You should go read it. No problem, I'll wait.

The tech industry is one of the few bright spots in a dim economy. So why aren't we teaching kids the skills they need to participate in it?

Indeed.

The good news is there are a lot of folks out there working on this.

 

  There are of course there are programs like Exploring Computer Science and the new CS Principles pilot that offer curriculum and training for teachers trying to build computer science in our schools.

But the real question is what are YOU doing? This issue impacts all of us. It is not OK to just sit there hoping someone else is plugging away at this. Seriously, Cameron Wilson's great, but he's pretty busy already.Five things you should do NOW to help computer science education:

1. Get every kid you know under the age of 10 hooked on Scratch or Alice or even QBasic. Let them play, and ask questions, and show off what they make.

1. Ask if computer science is in your local schools - then ask why not. Oh, and don't just ask about your school...ask about that other one, down the block. The urban/rural/under-served school. Those kids need this too.

1. Stop blaming guidance counselors and administrators and every other bogey man out there. No one likes whiners, and those folks are busy worrying about dropout rates and intruder drills and grumpy parents. Give them something to value in computer science. Positive energy breeds long term success. Make the Computer Science program something they can brag about.

1. Go to a CSTA meeting. No local chapter? Start one - it's super easy. 

1. Select one:

• If you are in Virginia - comment on the new technology SOLs. Not sure what to say? How's this: Computer Science is the discipline underlying all innovation, especially in the STEM fields. Our students need to move beyond just working on learning computer applications to learning the computer science topics that will build their success in school and future careers. Computer Science should be included in the Computer Technology SOL's.

• Don't live in Virginia? First, yes our standardized tests are called SOL's. No, that is not a joke. Second - find your state standards. Is computer science in there? Just figuring out where you state stands is a great first step.

So my question for you - what are YOU doing?

Random Numbers make Big Hair

Random numbers are one of those core topics in teaching computer science. We experience them all the time, but most folks really don't know anything about how they happen or what they are used for.

Often games are the most obvious way of teaching about random numbers. It is a quick and easy way to introduce the topic. However there is a downside in relying too much on games. Not all students, especially females, are naturally interested in gaming. Traditionally it is perceived to be a very male centered activity and  only using gaming to teach runs the risk of turning off a large chunk of our students.

This month's Wired Magazine had a quick article on how the animators at Pixar created the hair in Brave. It gives and interesting discussion of how geometry and computer science come together in animation. The article is nice and short and would make a good discussion board prompt on random numbers.

I do use games throughout my courses, but I try to balance them with other types of programs. We use a lot of media computation based problems also, and when I do games I try to wither offer a social component or an alternative assignment.

A side note - overall this was one of the better issues for high school kids. Pretty readable overall, and less questionable content than some.

What is Missing from the Next Generation Science Standards

The Next Generation Science Standards were published on May 11th.

This week the CSEd Week Blog a great post about why computer science should be included in these standards.

From the post:

While the math standards are well on their way to being implemented and assessed, Achieve’s new effort on the science standards is still in development, and they need to hear from you about the importance of having real, engaging computer science in these standards.

Computer Science News Roundup - May 30, 2012

Each week my computer science students do discussion board posts that respond to current events. Here are some stories that caught my eye this week.

Computer Science related news this week's theme is the future of technology:

• The Spaceship Has Landed - the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has docked at the international space station. How does this change space travel? What are the chances you could ever go to space? would you want to? Do you think this will impact any other areas where research and development happen?
• Optimism - This article talks about the reasons to be optimistic about our future. The author lists several reasons to be optimistic. How does technology play a role? How does the constant stream of information that is created by technology contribute to pessimism? Do you agree with the author? Are you optimistic about your future? Why?
• What do you expect? - Shelly Turkle's book is called "Alone together: Why We Expect More From Technology And Less From Each Other". In this article she summarizes some of her ideas. Her Ted Talk on the topic can be found here. What role does technology play in how you communicate? How has computer science impacted how you communicate? How could computer science be used to fix some of the problems the author write about?
• Internet Defense League - This group wants to "defend the Internet from bad laws and monopolies". Do you think there is a need for this? What harm could come from groups like this? Benefits? Should there be a concern about vigilantes on the Internet? And finally - do you agree that the cat is the symbol of the Internet?

Computer Science News Roundup - May 16, 2012

Each week my CS Principles students do discussion board posts that respond to current events. Here are some stories that caught my eye this week:

Computer Science related news, a mostly BBC theme this week:

• Criminal Robots - so now that you can visit far-away placed using avatars and robots, what are the ethical implications? We tend to place a lot of trust in the Internet, but criminals are on-line too. How should this shape your digital life?
• Hactivist Simulation - Brittan's government recently ran a simulation of a cyber - attack from a group of hactivists. How should governments be responding to these attacks? What jobs might relate to protecting from cyber attacks? Should the response be different for cyber-terrorists?
• Yahoo Chief Executive steps down Computer Science degrees are so valuable CEO's are faking them. Why is it important to be truthful in presenting information about yourself? Many have argued that the Internet has made us all more anonymous. Is this true?
• And for the truely paranoid: WiFi blocking wallpaper.

Computer Science In the News

Interesting Articles:

• Computer made of soldier crabs -
• Netflix Algorithms - Open Source

Robot Week

So apparently it is Robot Week. I read it somewhere and have no actual confirmation that it is official. I figure if we can have a shark week Robot Week seems feasible. Even if it is a hoax here are a few robot themed news items:

• Social Robots - Inventor hangs out with her robot. I also love this because her personal website is called Marilyn Monrobot.
• Smartphone Robot Solves Rubik's Cube super fast

UPDATE: According to this website Robot week is sometime in April. Plan ahead!

Local Mall Tracking Cell Phones

Short Pump Town Center Tracking Cell Phones
The mall is using sensors to track where in the mall shoppers are going. We'll be doing a discussion board entry after break about this. It touches on the ideas of big data, privacy and encryption that are central to the CS Principles Site.

Freshness Algorithm

OK, so I never figured I'd be teaching algorithms and current events. Today the New York Times ran an article about Google's new search algorithm: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/google-changes-search-algorithm-trying-to-make-results-more-timely/?hp

This should make a great start for a discussion board posting for the CS Principles class.

--
Mrs. Dovi

If there is an app for that...

"writing that software will be somebody's job." Great piece on NPR tonight about the job market for software developers. Might use this in the Back to School newsletter for parents.

Star Trek Stops Women from Going Into Computer Science

Interesting article from Wired. It covers research from Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The article says:

and colleagues tested this idea by alternately decorating a computer science classroom with objects that earlier surveys pegged as stereotypically geeky—Star Trek posters, videogames and comic books — or with objects that the surveys found to be neutral— coffee mugs, plants and art posters. Thirty-nine college students spent a few minutes in the room, then filled out a questionnaire on their attitudes toward computer science.

Robots in Space

MIT and NASA team up in a competition to program robotic spheres that will compete aboard the International Space Station.

CS captures collar bomb suspect

Computers save the day

This is the case from Australia about the Teenaged girl who was locked in a collar bomb. As i read the article it struck me how much computer science was a part of capturing a suspect. Deleted files on a usb drive, locations where the email account was created and accessed...it really was the digital fingerprint that led to an arrest.