A Middle School Computing Science Initiative A bottom-up approach... Harvey Duff School CS Outreach...

A Middle School Computing Science

Initiative

A bottom-up approach...

Harvey DuffSchool CS Outreach Consultant Department of Computing ScienceUniversity of Alberta)

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeA Quick Overview of:

WhyHowWhatWho

Why? To deal with three Senior High CS issues

Poor Gender BalanceLack of General AppealEthnic Diversity

A Middle School Computing Science

Initiative

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeHow?Address these issues in earlier grades

Starting in Junior High – goodStarting in Upper Elementary – betterStarting in K to 3 - best

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeHow? Offer units of study that:

Appeal to girlsAppeal to diverse populationsAre culturally sensitiveLink with other subject areas

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeHow? Offer units of study that:

Are Intrinsically MotivatingUse a systematic Computational Thinking model Use an “agile” approachHave Iterative, Incremental, Evolutionary work

approachUse Design, Develop, Code, Assess cycles

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeHow? Offer units of study that move students to

become:More autonomous learnersMore collaborativeMore able to decompose problems into a set of

smaller, simpler problems

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeHow? Offer units of study that move students to

become:More able to develop algorithmsMore able to implement those algorithmsMore able to transfer Skills and Knowledge from one

domain to another

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeHow? Use CTF as a vehicle to develop units of studyIncorporate them in core subjects in

ElementaryDevelop as a stand alone CTF Option in

Junior High – BUT linked to other subjectsLink to Computing Oriented CTS OAs

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeHow? Use a cross division team to develop the unitsHave Elementary teachers “drive” the units

aimed at ElementaryHave Junior High teachers “drive” the units

aimed at Junior HighUse an agile approach to develop agile units

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeWhat? Create project sequences to help students

move from: Heavily scaffolded projects to less scaffolded ones.Following algorithms to developing algorithmsWalk through to emulation to creationCook to chef

A Middle School Computing Science

Initiative

What?

A Middle School Computing Science

Initiative:What?The Queen Elizabeth CSI using approach to

develop:Interactive Map of Canada (Gr. 5 Social)Predator/Prey Exploration (Gr. 5 Science)Slide Show style Timeline (Gr. 5 Social)Side Scrolling Timeline Template (Gr. 6 Social)

A Middle School Computing Science

Initiative:What?

Generic Story Telling Project sequenceSingle Frame Biography Two Person ConversationMulti-scene Story

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeWhat?Looking to build a “syllabus” of similar projects

at Junior High using:ScratchGame MakerPythonHTML/CSS/JavaScript

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeWho?NCC CSI team consists of Junior High,

Elementary, Senior High and Post Secondary teachers based out of Queen Elizabeth High School in Edmonton.

Any Senior High could “clone” this initiative for their catchment area.

A Middle School Computing Science

InitiativeInterested in doing something

similar?

Contact me and I’ll put you in touch with the principal players.