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Serious fun in Computer Science

1. Serious fun in Computer Science. Paul Curzon & Peter McOwan. There is a crisis…. UK wide Computer Science applications have been falling by around 10% a year for several years Why?

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Serious fun in Computer Science

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  1. 1 Serious fun in Computer Science Paul Curzon & Peter McOwan

  2. There is a crisis… • UK wide Computer Science applications have been falling by around 10% a year for several years Why? • It’s geeky, uninteresting, too easy, too mathematical, too hard, just for boys, and who wants a career on a help desk anyway… • …but its none of those! 1

  3. All hope is gone?!? 1

  4. What are we doing? • All the standard stuff + … • Putting the FUN back into the subject • Focus on selling the subject NOT QMUL • So that our passion for the subject and our enthusiasm comes across. • Driven by the way we teach • Combination of “Live Shows” and cs4fn 1

  5. Finding Ways to Bridge the School-University Gap • We need ways to convince people the subject is exciting…base it on our passion • We need to show people what the subject is about… • Show what subjects they will study at University, (hard when they know nothing about it) • …and that it is not just school “ICT” • All based around core idea of “its fun” • Combination of “Live Shows” and cs4fn • Special area of cs4fn called the “Fundamentals” 1

  6. cs4fn: Computer Science for Fun • A free magazine and webzine • On Computer Science Research (not just ours) • Launched June 2005 • For “kids” of all ages (focus 14ish +) • Support: EPSRC, ARM, Microsoft, Intel, BCS, FutureLab, Equalitec, … 1

  7. cs4fn: A Research Webzine • Not just a magazine, not just a website • Distributed free to 3000+ schools and individuals who ask • Given as a freebie at schools talks and exhibitions • ~75 000 visits/month 1

  8. Research to Kids? The latest magazine issue includes write-ups of research seminars on • Prof Jon Crowcroft’s work on DTNs • Prof Yvonne Rogers work on Ubicomp Also • Bristol Mediascapes • Swarm computing • Fran Allen and female computer Professionals It also covers some really serious CS • Theory: P=NP? • Practice: CS research into keeping babies alive 1

  9. What do Teachers / Kids say? • “…fantastic - will do wonders for making Computer Science more accessible for my 6th formers" • “absolutely brilliant … just what we need to turn more kids on to computer science” • “fantastic initiative!…wish I’d found out about it earlier” • “brilliant magazine…!” • “Your magazine really rockz.” • “Your website is fantastic.” • “Cool Site.” • “This magazine…It's simply awesome”. 1

  10. cs4fn: Fundamentals • When I changed from Maths to Computer Science I had no idea what I was letting myself in for • Fundamentals fixes that • Fun, irreverent, introduction to core CS topics using interactive cs4fn material • Based on live show material www.cs4fn.org/fundamentals/ 1

  11. Projects • Fundamentals uses real student project profiles to give an overview of where it all could lead. • …real people, who went on to get real jobs. • …showing the results of what you can do is a good way to get girls interested in such a “techie” subject. 1

  12. Shows: Old rope and toilet roll…The Elf computer • We don’t touch computers that much in our talks…I never do teaching programming • …a Blue Peter / Terry Pratchett approach to CS • It emphasizes computation not computers • Helps overcome confusion with IT as no IT in sight • It’s much more fun … • Tangibles (ie toilet roll) get over the invisibility problem of abstract computation • One of the most popular ie rated “useful” things I do in lectures 1

  13. Programming: Lecture 1… I have a piece of paper that is more intelligent than anyone in this room … 1

  14. What is it about? • That is all a computer program is. • Leads to discussion of algorithms, why we need programming languages and Artificial Intelligence 1

  15. The Computer Science Magic Show • To introduce logic and proof we have a computer magician. • Also do a three hour magic show with real tricks • After each trick the challenge: • How was it done • What is the CS link? 1

  16. Could you write a book if you had locked-in syndrome? • Jean-Dominique Bauby did… “one of the greatest books of the century” • Describing what his life was like with locked-in syndrome • How did he do it? • How might he have done it if he’d known some computer science? 1

  17. RED RED + RED Card#1 Card#2 BLACK+ BLACK BLACK 2 1 SNAP Neuron! 2 1

  18. Human design versus AI Evolution Survival of the fittest www.sodarace.net 1

  19. Human Error SpaceInvaders • My research area is formal methods and HCI • SpaceInvaders is a Kids version of the expts we are running to investigate the causes of human error • Research based on it won a best research paper award 1

  20. Bridging the Gap • By tackling serious topics in a fun way we are able to make the subject accessible, getting at some very deep computer science • If the readers of cs4fn do decide to do Computer Science they will be prepared • They will know a lot about the topics of study without realizing it • If they do another subject they will have still learnt lots of useful stuff 1

  21. Computer Science is naturally fun • CS is full of games and puzzles used for real fun • Patience is just a sort algorithm game, • Cross references are encryption, • Sudoku is logical proof, • Chinese Rings is Gray code and Interface design • P=NP is an equation about puzzles • Even Dr Seuss wrote a book for 5-year olds on a core computer science topic: recursion! 1

  22. cs4fn is glue • It gives a tangible vehicle for pulling together a whole range of different initiatives • Each then can feed off and reinforce the others • Talks, Workshops, Exhibitions • Widening Participation, Accessibility • Topic Portals supporting modules • Actual research 1

  23. cs4fn : Join the fun • If CS excites you why not join in the fun? • Sponsor us, write, donate images, tell us your stories, encourage us to write up your keynotes,… • Following academics from Bristol, Swansea, Herts, Reading, Cambridge, UCL, Sheffield, Glasgow, OU, Edinburgh… • We are also looking to build a network of regional champions who partner us on cs4fn, using it in their own outreach • With Dundee, Edinburgh, Bristol, North Carolina, Sienna College… • The EPSRC grant is explicitly about turning cs4fn into a national campaign and funds the base cost of the magazine - individual universities pay run on costs (<20p per copy) • Share the ways you make CS fun 1

  24. My aim is to do this UK-wide …and have fun at the same timePlease help me, help you. 1

  25. Questions? 1

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