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A Model for Improving Secondary CS
Education
Barbara Ericson, Mark Guzdial, Maureen Barbara Ericson, Mark Guzdial, Maureen BiggersBiggers
[email protected] [email protected] Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology
The Problem NationwideThe Problem Nationwide
US Dept of Labor predicts the fastest US Dept of Labor predicts the fastest growing occupations in 2002-2012growing occupations in 2002-2012• Computer Software EngineersComputer Software Engineers• Computer System DesignersComputer System Designers
Across the county the number of CS Across the county the number of CS students is dropping (23%)students is dropping (23%)• Some high schools are removing CSSome high schools are removing CS• Percentage of women is in teensPercentage of women is in teens• Several groups are underrepresentedSeveral groups are underrepresented
The Problem in GeorgiaThe Problem in Georgia
Only about 50 schools of over 370 Only about 50 schools of over 370 public schools offer AP CSpublic schools offer AP CS• Many of these are private schoolsMany of these are private schools
Many students don’t take the examMany students don’t take the exam• Many of the ones who do, don’t passMany of the ones who do, don’t pass
AP CS moved to Technology and AP CS moved to Technology and Career Education DepartmentCareer Education Department• Most of these teachers have no Most of these teachers have no
programming experienceprogramming experience
One SolutionOne Solution
ICE: The Institute for Computing ICE: The Institute for Computing EducationEducation• Partnership between Partnership between
Georgia Tech’s College of ComputingGeorgia Tech’s College of Computing Georgia Department of EducationGeorgia Department of Education
Announced June 2004 by Kathy Cox Announced June 2004 by Kathy Cox and Richard DeMilloand Richard DeMillo
ICE HistoryICE History
November 2003 Diversity Advisory November 2003 Diversity Advisory Board meetingBoard meeting• Nationally recognized professionalsNationally recognized professionals
From academia and businessFrom academia and business
• Including the Director of Technology and Including the Director of Technology and Career Education in GeorgiaCareer Education in Georgia
Discussions of the problems with CS Discussions of the problems with CS and how to solve themand how to solve them• Led to the formation of ICELed to the formation of ICE
ICE GoalsICE Goals
Train more CS-AP teachersTrain more CS-AP teachers• Start by training teachers for an Start by training teachers for an
introductory course introductory course even teachers with no experienceeven teachers with no experience
• When ready train for CS-AP courseWhen ready train for CS-AP course Increase the number and diversity of Increase the number and diversity of
CS students CS students • Interesting curriculumInteresting curriculum• Help with recruitingHelp with recruiting
Summer 2004Summer 2004
1 week AP workshop1 week AP workshop• 17 teachers attended17 teachers attended
2 week Programming and Systems 2 week Programming and Systems Management WorkshopManagement Workshop• 30 teachers attended30 teachers attended
Two 1 week summer camps for high Two 1 week summer camps for high school studentsschool students• 30 students each week30 students each week
AP WorkshopAP Workshop
AP Workshop DevelopmentAP Workshop Development
Development Development ProcessProcess• Visits to classroomsVisits to classrooms• Teacher surveysTeacher surveys
Desired ContentDesired Content• Object-oriented Object-oriented
principlesprinciples• Case StudyCase Study• Data StructuresData Structures
AP Workshop ContentAP Workshop Content
Short lectures (< 30 minutes)Short lectures (< 30 minutes)• Followed by hands-on activitiesFollowed by hands-on activities
Role-playingRole-playing OO Analysis using CRC cards OO Analysis using CRC cards UML class diagramsUML class diagrams Small programming assignmentsSmall programming assignments
Demonstrations of current researchDemonstrations of current research Talk on encouraging diversityTalk on encouraging diversity
Prog and Sys WorkshopProg and Sys Workshop
Prog and Sys DevelopmentProg and Sys Development Adapt curriculum from undergraduate Adapt curriculum from undergraduate
course for non-majors at Techcourse for non-majors at Tech• Taught in Python Taught in Python • Developed by Mark GuzdialDeveloped by Mark Guzdial
Teaches CS by manipulating mediaTeaches CS by manipulating media• Pictures, sounds, movies, textPictures, sounds, movies, text
The undergrad course has been successful The undergrad course has been successful • Better retention ratesBetter retention rates• Attracting more women and underrepresented Attracting more women and underrepresented
groupsgroups• Getting people to transfer into CSGetting people to transfer into CS• Students are taking a second CS courseStudents are taking a second CS course
Prog and Sys Content DeliveryProg and Sys Content Delivery
Short Lectures (< 30 minutes)Short Lectures (< 30 minutes)• Hands-on programming assignmentsHands-on programming assignments• Role playingRole playing
Demos of current researchDemos of current research• Robot dogs, aging in placeRobot dogs, aging in place
Talk on diversityTalk on diversity Student panel discussionStudent panel discussion
Prog and Sys ContentProg and Sys Content Introduction to object-oriented conceptsIntroduction to object-oriented concepts Keywords and operatorsKeywords and operators Primitive and object variablesPrimitive and object variables Class and object methodsClass and object methods ArraysArrays Iteration (for and while loops)Iteration (for and while loops) Conditionals (if, if-else, if-else-if, and, or)Conditionals (if, if-else, if-else-if, and, or) Graphical User InterfacesGraphical User Interfaces Input/Output and ExceptionsInput/Output and Exceptions DebuggingDebugging
Goals for ContentGoals for Content
MotivatingMotivating• For students and teachersFor students and teachers
CreativeCreative• Open-ended assignmentsOpen-ended assignments
Authentic tasksAuthentic tasks• Start with what students use computers Start with what students use computers
for (pictures, sounds, text, web, games)for (pictures, sounds, text, web, games)
Negate an ImageNegate an Image
MirroringMirroring
RotationRotation
Create a CollageCreate a Collage
Remove ‘Red Eye’Remove ‘Red Eye’
Sepia-TintSepia-Tint
ChromakeyChromakey
Teacher CollagesTeacher Collages
AP ResultsAP Results
Survey resultsSurvey results• 94.12% felt more capable94.12% felt more capable• 88.24% got ideas on what to teach88.24% got ideas on what to teach• 94.12% got ideas on how to teach94.12% got ideas on how to teach• 76.47% felt ready to teach in fall76.47% felt ready to teach in fall
Teachers want sample test questions Teachers want sample test questions and lesson plansand lesson plans
Some of the teachers are using the Some of the teachers are using the contentcontent
Prog and Sys ResultsProg and Sys Results
Survey resultsSurvey results• 70.37% of teachers felt more capable70.37% of teachers felt more capable• 96.30% got ideas on what to teach96.30% got ideas on what to teach• 88.89% got ideas on how to teach88.89% got ideas on how to teach• 44.44% felt ready to teach in fall44.44% felt ready to teach in fall
Teachers with no experience wanted Teachers with no experience wanted a slower pacea slower pace
Some of the teachers are using the Some of the teachers are using the contentcontent
QuotesQuotes
I didn’t want to take this workshop. I I didn’t want to take this workshop. I thought it would be boring and too math-thought it would be boring and too math-based, but I am having fun.based, but I am having fun.
My kids won’t believe that I am My kids won’t believe that I am programming for fun.programming for fun.
This was the best (non-college credit) This was the best (non-college credit) workshop I have ever taken.workshop I have ever taken.
The demos were awesome. I wish I had The demos were awesome. I wish I had thought ahead & had a video camera to thought ahead & had a video camera to record demos. record demos.
Student Summer CampsStudent Summer Camps
Two one-week summer camps for high Two one-week summer camps for high school studentsschool students• Not residentialNot residential• 30 students in each camp30 students in each camp
ContentContent• Building a computer from partsBuilding a computer from parts• Computer engineering labComputer engineering lab• Media manipulation in pythonMedia manipulation in python• Demonstrations of researchDemonstrations of research• Afternoon recreationAfternoon recreation
Student Summer CampsStudent Summer Camps
Student Summer CampStudent Summer Camp
Student Summer CampStudent Summer Camp
What Else is ICE Doing?What Else is ICE Doing?
Winter/Spring 2-day WorkshopsWinter/Spring 2-day Workshops• AP Case StudyAP Case Study• Teaching Java using Turtles, Robots, and SoundTeaching Java using Turtles, Robots, and Sound• Preparing for the AP ExamPreparing for the AP Exam
AP Bowl Competition at TechAP Bowl Competition at Tech• April 16April 16thth
Developing a database of practice exam Developing a database of practice exam questions and answersquestions and answers• With explanations for all answersWith explanations for all answers
Extending the Case StudyExtending the Case Study
Using Turtles, Robots, and Sound Using Turtles, Robots, and Sound to Teach Javato Teach Java
Use LEGO Robots and a visual Use LEGO Robots and a visual programming language to introduce programming language to introduce programming conceptsprogramming concepts
Use Turtle.java to control a virtual Use Turtle.java to control a virtual turtle using Javaturtle using Java
Use Karel J. Robot to control a virtual Use Karel J. Robot to control a virtual robot using Javarobot using Java
Use Sound manipulations to teach Use Sound manipulations to teach programming conceptsprogramming concepts
LEGO RobotsLEGO Robots
RCX Code Visual Prog LanguageRCX Code Visual Prog Language
Program a Turtle with JavaProgram a Turtle with Java
Program a Robot with JavaProgram a Robot with Java
Using Sound to teach JavaUsing Sound to teach Java
Write programs to reverse a sound, Write programs to reverse a sound, append sounds, make a sound clip, append sounds, make a sound clip, and construct a MIDI songand construct a MIDI song
Summer 2005 WorkshopsSummer 2005 Workshops
2 week Prog. and Sys. for beginners 2 week Prog. and Sys. for beginners • No programming experience requiredNo programming experience required• July 5-8th and 12-15th 2005July 5-8th and 12-15th 2005
1 week intermediate Prog. and Sys. 1 week intermediate Prog. and Sys. June 28-July 1st 2005 June 28-July 1st 2005 • Some programming experience requiredSome programming experience required
1 week College Board Endorsed AP 1 week College Board Endorsed AP July 18-22July 18-22
ICE ResourcesICE Resources Collaborative WebsiteCollaborative Website
• http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gthttp://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt Mailing listsMailing lists
• [email protected]@cc.gatech.edu • [email protected]@cc.gatech.edu
Classroom visitsClassroom visits• Barbara Ericson Barbara Ericson [email protected]@cc.gatech.edu
Field trips Field trips • Kristin Vadas Kristin Vadas [email protected]@cc.gatech.edu
Summer camps for studentsSummer camps for students• http://http://www.cc.gatech.edu/campicewww.cc.gatech.edu/campice//
Model for OthersModel for Others
Partnership between a Dept of Partnership between a Dept of Education and a University Education and a University
Summer workshops and campsSummer workshops and camps• With year-long follow-up for the With year-long follow-up for the
teachersteachers Can grow new CS-AP Teachers Can grow new CS-AP Teachers
• Even from teachers without much Even from teachers without much programming experienceprogramming experience
Have teachers signing up for this summers Have teachers signing up for this summers AP workshopAP workshop
ChallengesChallenges
FundingFunding• State provides some funding State provides some funding
For workshopsFor workshops
• Georgia Tech would like more supportGeorgia Tech would like more support From NSF, corporations, or foundationsFrom NSF, corporations, or foundations
Managing ExpectationsManaging Expectations• Don’t we have more AP teachers yet?Don’t we have more AP teachers yet?• 3-5 year time frame for results3-5 year time frame for results