String Immutability - APCS A Deep Dive

Content has moved to CodeVA's Teacher's Lounge - latest post: 

http://www.supercs.net/2015/03/29/immutable-strings/

The String class can cause a lot of confusion for students as they first start working with code. We often introduce it early in the year, indeed it is hard to do many meaningful things without it. The problem is, as an example of a class data type, it can behave in some unusual ways...

Telling Stories with Data

Content has moved to CodeVA's Teacher's Lounge - latest post: 

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 ...

My Latest Project - CodeVA

So anyone that has spent more than five minutes with me in the past three months has heard an earful about our new project. CodeVA is a non-profit focused on bringing computer science education to students and teachers across Virginia.

Launching in summer 2014 CodeVA brings two initiatives:

• Teacher Training
  • In partnership with Code.org CodeVA is working with four Virginiaschool districts to train new computer science teachers.
• Summer Camps
  • To bring computer science to kids across central Virginia CodeVA is running five summer camps.

Join us in bringing computer science to Virginia kids. Sign up for CodeVA's free monthly newsletter here. We'll never share your information.

  

Human Computer Interaction Oops

Today I was researching Human Computer Interaction as a part of a side project, and I came accross this gem:

http://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/user-interface-design.html 

The error message is cracking me up - do all the .gov pages use this? 

And in case you are wondering THIS is not a professional website.

Which is why it has been so far in few between on posts lately. Several projects are winding down, and big deadlines leave little time for posting.

The biggest of these has been CodeVA, a non-profit to support computer science education in Virginia. 

And of course the AP Computer Science MOOC is nearing the end of the first year. We are doing AP prep right now, with a diagnostic exam and live webinars, so if you students need AP review feel free to use what is posted there.

The Data Cake

Interesting read for the APCS Principles course on open data and the impact on research. The article is especially interesting in light of the Data Portfolio Task that asks students to find a publicly available data set as a part of their exploration.

And I know that it is now the Investigate Performance Task, not the Data PT, but to be honest my brain is full these days and cannot take all these name changes.

There is also this: "we must redress the dominance of knowledge generated in the global North". Very interesting to think of covering the Data and Global Impacts together in this way. This would make a great class discussion and journal topic.

I may also use the graphic as a writing prompt. One of the goals I have for the students is to articulate the difference between data and information.

Posters for Computer Science - Careers that use Computer Science

These posters are from the Otronicon Science Center in Orlando, FL. Forget Harry Potter World, we are definitely putting that on the list for our next Florida trip. I am sure this kids won't mind.

Anyhoo, I am fascinated that a science museum has done such a thorough job of including computational thinking and computer science topics in their materials.

Anyway, the posters are free to print and use. They include writing, architecture, linguistics - some fields we don't traditionally associate with computer science.

Some of the other pages have some good resources too. The Medical Sim City page (tagged: See how simulation technology is being used to create better doctors, nurses and other medical professionals) looks like it has some interesting things to help cover the modeling and simulation info in the APCS Principles course, for example.

So, What is code?

Great video from PBS Off Book, a series that explores art in the digital world

Is Code the Most Important Language in the World?


 

It does a great job of quickly describing what code is and then delving into some of the current issues in computer science. I am using it this week as a part of CS Education Week as a journal prompt for my students.

"It is hard to say what problems would be solved with a more diverse workforce."

- Adda Birnir, Co-Founder SkillCrush

 This is the driving force behind a lot of my own work lately. This moves is beyond just looking at diversity of the workplace, but really at how we solve problems as a society.

Inevitably the problems we solve are going to reflect the views and experiences of those solving them. At a deeper level though, the people with the ability to solve these problems through coding have the power to ultimately decide what problems get solutions.

Computer Science is predominantly white and Asian males. In the 2010 census this group made up roughly 38% of the overall population in the United States. That means that 62% of the population is outside of this circle of influence. In essence their problems are outside the view of the people solving humanities problems.

I highly recommend the series in general. The videos are very engaging, short, and show a great diversity of people working with technology.

Some other topics they cover:

• Future of Wearable Technology
• Art of Data Visualization
• Art of Creative Coding

And in case you are using writing in your cs classes here's a full list of the Journal prompts I use in CS Principles.

Top 10 Computer Science Tweets for APCS Principles

APCS Principles has a lot of great places to include articles and news about computer science for student readings. Here is a summary of some of the more interesting ones I have posted on Twitter recently:

• Computer chemists win Nobel Prize - great read for #APCSP, and every guidance department in us high schools
• Breaking Brick Stereotypes: LEGO Unveils a Female Scientist
• Data Unit - Ten Simple Rules for Reproducible Computational Research 
• Data  - Future of Statistics  
• Rage Against the Algorithms 
• Potential for #apcsp? Open auto essay scoring engine from CMU looking for pilot schools 
• First 2 3D printers in Haiti - printing umbilical cord clamps & other medical devices. 
• Simple testing can boost CS education 29% overnight!
• What's the coders' responsibility? Facebook-alpha testing program 'not for the faint of heart'
• Advertisers could track your smartphone through accelerometer, researchers find 
• Every Second on the Internet 
• 
  

CS Principles Pilot Curriculum - an Update

Whew, busy!

This year has been crazy, but the good kind. Over the past two days I have updated my list of what we are doing in the CS Principles Pilot so far this year. If you are interested, the list is here: http://supercs.net

Etsy shop that was selling the flashcards

Let me tell you, we've been busy. Digging into what we have covered so far gives me hope we are really moving towards something.

A side note, the Performance Tasks (nee Portfolio Assessments) have just been updated. If you are in any way working on the CS Principles project you ought to take a look. Of special interest is the new Impact PT that replaces the Internet one from the past two years.

A technique I am using this year goes back to my days as a debater. I have printed out all of the Learning Objectives on flash cards. Each time I lesson plan on a particular topic I pull the cards that relate. This approach has really let me see the connections in the topics as we go through the material, and has sparked some new ideas for journal topics.

If there is any interest let me know and I can try to post the flash cards as a pdf for folks to print out.

Weekly Roundup

For the Computer Science Principles classes last week I had them define Computer Science . The Wordle below is from their definitions after Unit 1. I am planning on having them do this each unit and see how our collective definition shifts as we layer on more material. I think this might make a good writing prompt later int he year.

Other things I've been looking at:

• Been using this site with my Algebra I kids: http://learnscratch.org/ I am hoping to incorporate Scratch and Graphing
• Curious to Try this: http://www.learnstreet.com/teacher_signup as the AP Computer Science Principles classes start on the Internet and HTML
• Rereading As We May Think by Vannevar Bush - this document, from 1945,  first suggests hypertext. Beyond the reading level of most of my high school kids, but some good nuggets
• As the computer club keeps working on their 3-D printer I am looking forward to trying Blockify 
• Interesting Video recruiting for AP Studio Art: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwyeKseCShY
• And, we just found out our CSTA chapter will get 100 Finches to play with next fall! Cannot wait.
• And lastly made my hotel reservation for SIGCSE 2014. The one thing I learned coaching debate - make the hotel reservation early!

Celebrate the International Day of teh Girl with...

Some Great Computer Science Resources

I just stumbled across the Tech Girls Website, and as they point out Oct 11 is the International Day of the girl.

They have a great list of resources - very complete.

What Holds Girls Back from Computer Science - an update

A few weeks back I blogged about an infograpfic that was making the rounds.

I am so happy to say that the infographic has been updated:

Better, no?

I am so glad to see the update. Gone is the one of blame and the factual errors about the APCS exam. The whole tone reflects their stated purpose of "Teach Girls To Program Before People Tell Them They Can't Do It". Great approach.

I really love that they now include information on stereotype threat. Joanne Cohoon at UVA has done a lot of great work on this as it relates to females in computer science. It is her research at NCWIT the reference at the bottom. And while we are at it, have you been to a Tapestry Workshop? If not put it on your list for next summer, absolutely will change your teaching. Resources from past workshops are posted on the site, so you can read ahead,

Well done!

Using Music to Teach Programming

So, what does Paul Simon have to do with array processing?

Glad you asked.

You Can Call Me Al Video

As anyone that has tried to teach arrays can tell you they can be a bit dry. Sadly, the best way to really understand anything in programming is to practice. One of the best workarounds I have found is storing music in arrays. My AP kids never really got into the classic drunkards walk program, but make it a random set of notes on a kazoo and tuba and they were all over it. Music lets them play, which means more practice.

This is fairly simple to do. Each note is a number, or an object, depending on the language. I have done this in Scratch, Visual Basic and Java with the kids. Scratch music is built right in, in VB we use the Beep command, and in Java I use the JMusic tools.

And what, you might be asking, does this have anything to do with You can Call Me Al?

If you listen ahead to about 3:30, there is a bass solo. A Palindromic bass solo. The first part was recorded by Bakithi Kumalo, then played backwards for the second half

The lesson:

• Play the video - ask them if they notice anything about the bass solo - you might need to play it a few times, and it helps if you have some band kids in the room.
• Make sure everyone understands palindromes
• Code a tune - store your notes in an array.
• Create a new array that will store the original tune, then store it backwards.
• So if your original tune was:  A B B D E the new array would store A B B D E E D B B A
• Demo the songs to the class.

Bassists Abraham Laboriel from Mexico and Bakithi Kumalo from South Africa

Another extension here is to watch the video of U-Bassists Abraham Laboriel and Bakithi Kumalo jamming in 2012. What happens if a musician makes a mistake on stage?

I am planning on using this as a journal prompt this year. One of the hardest things for new programmers happens around mistakes. Sadly this is a by product of much of the rest of their education. They are trained to find the right answer.  In computer science we care most about the correct solution, and that is usually going to take several tries. Sometimes the mistake points the way to a better solution. My goal is to get them to embrace their mistakes.

• Making Music with Java - by Andrew Brown
• More info on jMusic you can download it here: http://explodingart.com/jmusic/GetjMusic.html
• Bakithi Kumalo Video playing the solo - on a fretless bass! Starts at min 2:20. While you are at it look at his hat - so want one.
• And if you are really in the mood for more bass:  U-Bassists Abraham Laboriel and Bakithi Kumalo jamming in 2012

Curious if anyone is using music in any other languages - if so, please share. 

Our Regularly Scheduled Program

I am gearing up for the coming school year. Kids report back the day after Labor Day.

While searching for some videos to start off the year I found this gem: Rear Admiral Grace Hopper on David Letterman

Seriously worth a look. She gives a great explanation of nano seconds, and as always is absolutely charming.

Makerbot Lecture - 3D Printing with David Wells

One of the nice things about all this crazy travel this summer is I have gotten to do and see some things that are just not available in Richmond, VA. Last night I got to go to the Makerbot store in NYC to hear a talk about 3-D Printing and Maker spaces.

3-D Printing Filament

The speaker was David Wells from the New York Hall of Science. He is the Manager of Creative Making & Learning - I know, best job title ever.

Last year my computer club's project was 3-D printing. They fund-raised and bought a PrintrBot tight at the end of the year. I am so excited to see where this takes us next year.

The presentation was a great overview of 3-D printing, some of the recent changes and how to incorporate it into maker spaces. One of the general themes was that engagement with museums tapers off as kids hit their teen years, and these maker spaces are a great way to bring them back in.

Several of the folks working at the Makerspace for the summer were there to show off what they were working on. They are part of Maker Corps Education program. They are officially called explainers, which I might borrow for when we do recruitment in the lab.

Oh, and if you are in the neighborhood NYSCI is the host of the Maker Faire NY this fall on Sept 21 - 22. If you haven't been to one you must go. Really - it's your homework. Find a Maker Faire near you and get to it. I got to do the one at the Henry Ford Museum last summer in Detroit and it was amazing.

Resources:

• Interview with David Wells - best summary of the Maker movement I've seen
• New York Hall of Science
• MakerSpace @ NYSCI
• Maker Corps 
• TinkerCad - Mind to Design in Minutes - This site lets you create the files that the 3-D printer uses
• Explainer TV from NYSCI - has some fun DIY projects and science explinations
• 
  

And if you need a story to help inspire you to the power of 3-D printing: 3-D Printer Brings Dexterity To Children With No Fingers.

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. 

Shopping List - Painting Electric Circuits

This has gotten to be a bit of an obsession over the past few days. Using paint to create electric circuits.

Seriously, it is all I can think about. I am making a lot of  "this sweater is OK, but it would be awesomer with some LED light bulbs" statements that make my children hover between interest and a deep tween embarrassment that only mothers can induce.

It started with a CNN article on Pens that can be used to draw circuits. I know, great idea.

Except they are from the UK, and kind of pricey (12 pounds which is about $18 today). And according to my sources on twitter the conductivity isn't great once it is dried over long distances. That said the site has some nice classroom kits that include thumbtack batteries. There has been a hollow empty void in my life that is filled now that I know thumbtack batteries exist - you know what I mean?

Also according to the website these pens are available in Radio Shack, so good for those of us stateside.

Think Geek Conductive Paint

For about $30 you can get a 50ml tub of paint from Think Geek. I have visions of renumbering the computers in my lab using this ...possibilities are endless.

This appears to be the same company, so it is probably the same stuff that is in the pens, but it is a better price point for just the paint.

I also found a video describing how to make copper based conductive paint. Sounds fun, but given my overall free time...I might just head to Radio Shack.

MIT also has some resources listed:

• A Kit of No Parts has a great list, including sources

One of the main reasons I am interested is the application for wearable electronics. I am curious to see if the paint can be used to attach conductive thread to the power source. I'll let you all know if it works.

Need more inspiration? Here is a video of interactive wallpaper made with conductive paint. It plays music.

We do some very simple circuits and logic gates in the APCS Principles class suing play-doh. The play-doh works well because it can be changed and experimented with very easily, but the stuff dries out so nothing can be taken home. This paint would make a nice extension, especially if they can make something to take home. Prototype in play-doh then paint for permanent.

Top 20 Ways to Learn Computer Science Online

I've been trying to keep up with all of the new ways to learn to code online - the first list is here. The new APCS Principles course has a lot of elements that move beyond teaching computer science as a coding class, including teaching about the Internet and using data. It is getting hard to keep up.

Modest Maps

A few top 20 lists:

• Top 20 Online training sites for Web Design 
• Top 20 Data Visualization Tools
• Top 20 Coding Online Tools

And for a little numerical diversity:

• Top 10 Sites for Free Education with Elite Universities

Underwater Spaghetti - Internet Cables

So sometimes in teaching you add a little fun fact into a lesson and that one little grain of sand takes over.

Underwater Internet Cables

I know, it seems totally random. But for two years in the APCS Principles pilot the students have been totally transfixed by this. It was a tiny picture off to the side of the notes and their questions. It led to a great conversation about the physical structure of the Internet and equity of access.

So look at this map:

I asked the kids what they notice first - many of them talked about how many parts of the world have very limited connections. This makes for a great writing prompt for their journals.

Just found these interactive maps - they let you explore these cables ad see where the connections are.

• Interactive Cable Map - this one lets you click and see details about where the lines are connected to various countries
• Interactive Cable Map with List of Cables - This one has a nice listing to the side of all of the major cables
• Collection of Maps-picture 5 - 8 that moves through the growth of users from 2002 to 2008 is pretty impressive

As an interesting comparison, here is a map of the first underwater cables laid int he mid 1800'a that made up the telegraph system:

Data Visualization Videos

Funny how sometimes you come across several unrelated sources and find a theme. Today it is data visualizations.

• Wired article on "How digital cartographers are dissolving clouds and streamlining satellite images, pixel by pixel"
• Couple of videos from PBS' Off Book Series - 
• The Art of Data Visualization - this starts with a history of data visualization back with ancient map making
• The art of Creative Coding
• Art of Web Design - good summary of the history of web design and some of the underkying ideas of good web design