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Workshop Using Alice to Stimulate Learning in STEM

Join Brenda Parker in the Alice Workshop on July 7, 2008, at MTSU Computer Science Department to enhance K-12 education using Alice, a free 3D programming environment. Explore the basics, create passive and interactive animations, and improve technological literacy through hands-on practice sessions and tests. Learn how to use Alice to reinforce concepts, encourage creativity, and develop logical thinking skills. Don't miss this opportunity to network with educators and boost your programming skills in a fun way!

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Workshop Using Alice to Stimulate Learning in STEM

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  1. WorkshopUsing Alice to Stimulate Learning in STEM July 7, 2008 Brenda Parker Computer Science Department MTSU

  2. Welcome • MTSU • Computer Science Department • Computer Lab – KOM 360 • Alice Workshop Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  3. Introduction • Introduce yourself to your neighbor • Prepare to introduce your neighbor to the class • Name • School • Interesting fact! Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  4. Rules • Feel free to take a break when needed • Restrooms are out the door to your left in the main hallway • Feel free to ask questions Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  5. Purpose of Workshop • Why is Computer Science Department interested in an Alice Workshop for K-12 teachers? • We live in a technological age. • Tennessee is lacking in producing a technological literate workforce! • Computer programs are everywhere • Programming is the new computer literacy! • Having a technology literate workforce will be necessary for continued economic growth. Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  6. Purpose of Workshop • Indicate methods for improving technological literacy in K-12 schools • Provide networking facilities among K-12 educators and the Computer Science department at MTSU • Show how the Alice tool can be used to improve K-12 education (math and science) Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  7. Purpose of Workshop • Why should we attempt to improve technological literacy? • K-12 students MUST become more computer literate to meet the technological demands of the future Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  8. Workshop Agenda • Short explanations on Alice will be given • Practice sessions will be interspersed during the day • Short test after each practice session • Participants will be asked to demonstrate their creations Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  9. Part I – Alice BasicsAlice Workshop • What is Alice? • Why use Alice? • Alice Basics – The Alice Environment • Example Worlds • Alice Texts Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  10. What is Alice? • Software • Free • Educational programming language • Named after Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland • offered by Carnegie Mellon University • Download at http://www.alice.org Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  11. What is Alice? • Software • uses a 3D programming environment • makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web. • designed to be a student's first exposure to programming. • allows students to populate a virtual world with objects (people, animals, vehicles, etc) and animate the objects Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  12. What is Alice? • Software • Allows the creation of passive and interactive animations • Passive animations (watch the resulting video) • Interactive animation (user participates in the animation – game) Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  13. Why use Alice? • provides students with a fun way to reinforce concepts studied in class • encourages creativity • promotes technological literacy • improves logical thinking • gives a gentle introduction to programming( the new computer literacy) Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  14. Alice Basics • Environment • How to Create a Passive Animation • How to Create an Interactive Animation Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  15. Object Tree Events Editor Details Panel Method Editor Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  16. EnvironmentObject Tree Window • Lists the predefined objects in the world • Camera • Light • Ground • Lists objects placed by the user • Penguin • Snowman Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  17. EnvironmentDetails Panel Window • Shows information about selected object in the Object Tree • Properties • Tell color, size, etc • Methods • Each method does something (shows what the object can do) • Penguin.flapWings • Functions • Each function returns something • Penguin’s width is 18. Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  18. Practice I • Place USB drive into your computer. • Open Alice • Close the Welcome Window • Set defaults • Click on an object in the Object Tree • Examine the Properties, Methods and Functions associated with the selected object Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  19. Practice I Test1. C A B D

  20. Practice Test I 2. What is the purpose of the “methods” tab? (1 pt) 3. What is the difference between “methods” and “functions”? (1 pt) 4. Name a property of the ground object. (1 pt) 5. Name a method listed for the camera object. (1 pt) 6. Name a function listed for the light object. (1 pt) 7. How do we select an object? (1 pt) 8. In the above picture, which object is selected? (1 pt)

  21. Alice BasicsHow to Create Passive Animations • 4 Step Process to create an animation • STEP 1: Choose a world • STEP 2: Choose objects for your world • STEP 3: Choose activities (methods) for your objects • STEP 4: Play your animation Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  22. STEP 1Choose your world environment • Click FileNew World • Click Templates • Click desired World • Click OPEN Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  23. STEP 2Choose Objects for your world • Click “Add Objects” Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  24. STEP 2Choose Objects for your world • Choose “Local Gallery” ST Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  25. STEP 2Choose Objects for your world 3. Choose desired 4. Choose desired gallery object Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  26. STEP 2Choose Objects for your world 5.Click “Add instance to World” Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  27. STEP 2Choose Objects for your world 6. Name objects if desired! Right click on object in the object tree and choose rename Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  28. Step 2Choose Objects for your world 7. Position objects in your world -Use “Click and Drag” -Use sub-circuit buttons” Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  29. Step 2Add Objects to your World 8. Click when all objects have been added and positioned. Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  30. Practice II • Click FileNew World • Choose Templates • Choose a World • Add Objects- Add at least 2 animals + 2 Nature • Position Objects • Rename objects, if desired • Click DONE • Save your world on your flash drive and call it workshop1.a2w (FileSave World) Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  31. Practice II Test 1. Name two classes found in the animal gallery. (1 pt) 2. What is the first step in creating an animation in Alice? (1 pt) 3. Name three types of worlds users may choose from when creating an animation. (3 pts) 4. What does “passive” animation mean? (1 pt) 5. Explain how to rename an object.(1 pt) 6. What do the following mouse controls buttons do? (3 pts) 7. What button should be pushed when all objects have been added and positioned? (1 pt) 8. How can you change the color of an object in your world? (1 pt)

  32. Step 3Choose activities (methods) for your objects • Click on desired object in the Object Tree. • Choose desired method from the list of Methods. • Drag the desired method to the Editor Window. Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  33. Step 3Choose activities (methods) for your objects • Click on desired object in the Object Tree. Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  34. Step 3Choose activities (methods) for your objects 2. Click METHODS and choose desired method from the Method List for that object. Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  35. Step 3Choose activities (methods) for your objects 3. Drag the desired method to the Editor Window. Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  36. Step 4Play Animation • Example Animations edwards.html Snow_Man_Story.html Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  37. Practice III • Click on one object • Click and drag 2 methods for that object to the Editor Window • Click on another object • Click and drag 2 methods for that object to the Editor Window • Play your video! • Save your world! Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  38. Practice III Test 1.When creating activities for the objects in your world, you must first ___________________________. (1 pt) 2. Which tab in the Details Panel should be chosen when choosing activities for the objects in your world? (1 pt) 3. When choosing activities for your objects, you should drag the desired _____ from the ______________ to the ___________(3 pts) 4.. What button should be selected to actually see your animation? (1 pt) 5. How many methods can be placed in the Editor Window? (2 pts)

  39. FYI It is easy to create a picture from your Alice world. How? • Tell Alice where to save your picture (FileEditPreferencesScreen GrabIndicate locationOK) • Click Play • Click Pause • Click Take Picture Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  40. Alice Texts • Dann, Wanda, Cooper, Stephen, Pausch, Randy, Learning to Program with Alice, Pearson Prentice Hall • Gaddis, Tony, Starting Out with Alice,Addison Wesley Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  41. Part II- Control StructuresAlice Workshop • Do in order • Do together • Loop • Decision Structure Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  42. Control Structures • Do in order • Instructions placed inside this structure will be executed in the order that they appear • Example: Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  43. Control Structures • Do in order • Advantage • Easy to learn about sequential logic • Easy to delete a group of statements Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  44. Control Structures • Do together • Allows multiple actions to occur at the same time • Provides an interesting effect! • Example: 4 penguins form a chorus line! Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  45. Control Structures • Loop • Easy way to perform same instructions multiple times Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  46. Control Structures • If Else Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  47. Example chorusline.a2w chorusline2.a2w Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  48. Practice IV • Add two control structure to your object • Use Loop or Do together or Do in order • Save your video • Play your video • Save a picture, if desired! Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

  49. Practice IV Test 1. How do you change the default settings in Alice? (2 pts) 2. What is the purpose of “Screen Grab”? (1 pt) 3. Why would you want to change the default setting in Alice? (1 pt) 4. Name two advantages for using the “Do in order” control structure. (4 pts) 5. What is the purpose of the “Do together” structure? (1 pt) 6. What is a “Loop”? (1 pt) 7. Where on the Alice screen are the control structures located? (1 pt) 8. Name 4 control structures found in Alice. (4 pts) 9. How do you save a picture of your world in Alice? (2 pts) 10. When instructed to do so, where does Alice save a picture of your world? (2 pts) 11. When a world picture is saved, what file name is the picture given? (2 pts)

  50. LUNCH • KOM 321 Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

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