This graphic from Baynote Shows a summary of what common online companies like Facebook and Google are doing with your data. This would make a great discussion board topic relating to Big Data for CS Principles.
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.
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:
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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 SkillCrushThis 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 heres a full list of the Journal prompts I use in CS Principles.
What are we doing after the AP exam
This question pops up every year with my students...we have six weeks after the AP Computer Science exam, are we doing anything?
Nope, Ive decided you can just nap for six weeks of school. That sounds reasonable.
They know me well enough that there is a lot of eye rolling at this point. After fifteen years teaching high school I have learned eye rolling equals success. It is my job to annoy them occasionally.
Usually I pick something new to everyone and we work through that. Sometimes we do advanced data structures like linked lists, java graphics or a new language.
This years group is too eclectic for that to work. I have students that already know VB, C++, Python and just about anything else I could throw at them. They have done NASA summer internships, built robots and held part-time jobs doing web design.
So I tried something new, this year they got to pick their own projects.
The ground rules were:
In short, I have been amazed. Plus, anything that cuts down on the amount of nagging I have to do everyday is a total win.
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Nope, Ive decided you can just nap for six weeks of school. That sounds reasonable.
They know me well enough that there is a lot of eye rolling at this point. After fifteen years teaching high school I have learned eye rolling equals success. It is my job to annoy them occasionally.
Usually I pick something new to everyone and we work through that. Sometimes we do advanced data structures like linked lists, java graphics or a new language.
This years group is too eclectic for that to work. I have students that already know VB, C++, Python and just about anything else I could throw at them. They have done NASA summer internships, built robots and held part-time jobs doing web design.
So I tried something new, this year they got to pick their own projects.
The ground rules were:
- Do something new to you
- Do something non-trivial (something that will take several weeks to complete)
- Amaze me
In short, I have been amazed. Plus, anything that cuts down on the amount of nagging I have to do everyday is a total win.
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 Cant 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!
Read More..
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 Cant 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!
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:
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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.
What it Takes to Make a Computer Science Teacher
Ive had this conversation 5 or 6 times over the last few months. Always with teachers, always centered around respect.
And mostly about computer science education.
So Im going to go ahead and put this in writing. A good teacher can teach computer science. Not every computer scientist can teach.
Im not just pulling this from thin air. For the last 5 years Ive been deeply embedded in the process of training new computer science teachers. I ran a program of 30 new AP Computer Science programs across Virginia. Some teachers had programmed, some had not.
I also have a decade of experience running extracurricular programs in computer science. Weve had some wonderful and knowledgeable volunteers.
I trained math and history teachers, business teachers, turfgrass teachers. And yes, turfgrasses a real subject.
So what does it take to make a good computer science teacher?
First and foremost is command of the classroom. Someone who can get kids engaged in great learning activities. Teaching is an art, one that has to be developed just like any other skill set.
But we cant stop there. Too many teachers have been thrown into computer science class rooms without the base knowledge they need in order to teach the subject.
This sets the teacher and students up for frustration and ultimately, failure. Its not that experienced teacher cant do computer science, its that they dont know computer science.
Computer science is the only high school subject I know of where we take people who have never even taken a class in the subject and say to you gotta go teach this. Can you imagine a calculus or physics, or art teacher that had never taken the subject at college?
And in an era where are professional evaluations are very closely tied to student test scores, its a wonder anybody would take that risk.
So what does it take to be a good computer science teacher?
The bottom line is content. With a good classroom teacher and solid curriculum you create a situation where a teacher can succeed, which is the base of all student success.
What Grammar Rules Are You Using MS Word
Have you ever found yourself wondering about the rules MS Word is using to make its grammar recommendations when you check your documents?
Ever wish you had a little peek into the madness behind it all?
Wish you could tell Word to stop checking a few things that just drive you crazy?
If any of this sounds familiar, read on to take a look into the grammar rules used to check your documents.
In older versions of Word, you need to start with the Tools menu, Spelling and Grammar choice.
At the bottom of the Spelling and Grammar window, click the Options button.
This will take you to the Spelling and Grammar tab.
In Word 2007, you can get there directly through the Office Button, Word Options button, Proofing choice.
Once there, you can select and deselect a variety of options. One to pay attention to is the Writing Style choice.
Using the drop down list, you can choose to have Word check either the "Grammar Only" or "Grammar & Style."
Interested in what the specific differences are between the two choices?
No problem!
Click the Settings button.
The Grammar Settings window will open, displaying the choices for Grammar checks.
When you select "Grammar Only," you only get the grammar portion of the list. In contrast, the "Grammar & Style" choice will have items from both parts of the list selected. (Notice that you can toggle between the two Writing Style choices at the top of the window, allowing you to easily compare the two).
Scroll through the list.
Youre free to check or uncheck items as you see fit.
When youre done, click OK and then OK again. (If youre in an older version of Word, youll also have to close the Spelling and Grammar window).
Thats it! You now know where to find Words control over the Grammar check. It looks like its time to customize and make it your own!
what is the difference between ddr2 and ddr3 to get
computer tips:
Ram DDR means Double Data Rate Random Access Memory. A 100 Mhz DDR RAM, DDR2 RAM,Then transfer the data to the two cycles of 4 to 8 DDR3
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Ram DDR means Double Data Rate Random Access Memory. A 100 Mhz DDR RAM, DDR2 RAM,Then transfer the data to the two cycles of 4 to 8 DDR3
Suppose, if the memory bandwidth of 100 MHz DDR RAM to a 1600 MB/s DDR2 will be of the 3200 MB/s and have DDR3 64,00 MB/sec.DDR3 Ram famous for gaming.
1. The normal use 99% of this difference is not well understood because of the computer program is not much a huge amount of memory bandwidth need, understood the difference when running heavy programs abed videos games(computer tips)
2. If the clock spee is more Ram the better it will perform. So DDR2 Ram gives the best experience.
Famous gaming Ram Transcend X-Ram.
3. DDR3 Ram is much more energy.
Famous gaming Ram Transcend X-Ram.
3. DDR3 Ram is much more energy.
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