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Computer Science Education

Jessica Gorman and Crystal Noel Computer Systems 2008-09 Computer Science Education Introduction Every day, technology becomes more advanced and accessible Little progress made at elementary school level

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Computer Science Education

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  1. Jessica Gorman and Crystal Noel Computer Systems 2008-09 Computer Science Education

  2. Introduction • Every day, technology becomes more advanced and accessible • Little progress made at elementary school level • Goal: to implement computer programming to educate elementary and/or middle school students in math and science

  3. What is the Scratch Program? • Cardinal Forest Elementary School • 25 min weekly classes • Origins of the Program • Gates • Allard

  4. Program Content • Curriculum developing process • SOLs • Introduction to Computer Science • Student Projects • Lesson plans • Rubrics • Introduction to new skills • Blackboard

  5. Blackboard

  6. What is Scratch? • Scratch • MIT Media Lab • Why Scratch? • Kid-friendly • Drag and drop text • Multimedia • Visually focused

  7. Developing a Curriculum • Topics • Integration of SOL topics • Coordinate System • Random • Problem Solving • Step-by-step process • Independent Projects • Computer Science Skills • Loops • Methods (Scripts)

  8. Time Line • October- November: basic Scratch skills • December- February: teacher designed projects • March- May: game design and individual projects

  9. Shapes Project

  10. Winter Wonderland Project

  11. Fish Game Project

  12. Research Topics • Benefits of Computer Education • Designing Computer Programs in Elementary School • Computer Science for Young Minds

  13. Benefits of a Computer Science Education • Benefits • Problem Solving • Teamwork • Dependability • Procedure • Observations • Surveys • Assessments

  14. Observations • Student A: • One of brightest students • Issues in the classroom, but not Scratch • Opportunity to learn skills • Student B: • Very intelligent, yet quiet • Kept to himself • Came out of shell to help others

  15. Surveys and Assessments • Assessments record knowledge retained • coordinate plane • random • broadcasting • Surveys measure • interest in computer science • social skills

  16. Designing Computer Programs in Elementary School • Value in program design • Problem solving skills • Troubleshooting • Independence • Creativity

  17. Project Design • ‘Make your own rubric’ activities • Individual projects • Pac Man • Super Mario • Dodgeball • Animated Story

  18. Story Rubric

  19. Observations • Lack of structure negatively influenced behavior • Don’t see benefits of planning • Reluctant to think for themselves • Only productive when heavily directed • Learning to brainstorm • New creativity outlet

  20. Computer Science for Young Minds • Elements of an effective class • Well-defined, but lax • Teaching computer programming • Immersion • Unorthodox teaching methods • Video conferencing

  21. Development and Procedures • Curriculum-expanding on predecessor’s ideas • Improvements required • Videos with Scratch • Part of auxillary research • Created and used as teaching aids

  22. Development and Procedures • Considered teleconferencing • Initially abandoned, then reconsidered and implemented

  23. Problems • Incompatibility • Latest Scratch for Linux: 1.2 • Required: 1.3 • Few formal sources for Scratch • Transportation • No car • Timing • Different period

  24. Students continue to learn Different paces observed Project successful Difficulties reasonably overcome Results

  25. Conclusion • Computer as medium • Teaching • Students • The sooner, the better • How young is too young? • Maybe never

  26. Future of Scratch • Connections to other schools • Videoconferencing • Model program

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