Google Working Hard to Retain Talent
This is a great article that helps students understand the demand for talented CS professionals. One of my students sent it to me and I had all of my students read and discuss it. It really did open a few eyes.
Tag Archives: Invention
CS News – Everyone Needs to Learn to “Crank Code”
This blog post has been flying around the SIGCSE and AP lists this past week, but I wanted to post a link to it again. This is a great post and one that we all need to read.
Everyone needs to understand how to write a bit of code. In order to truly create or innovate, everyone need the basic skill of code writing. If we are going to remain a nation of innovators, we need to teach kids how to “crank code” as these skills are often used to help cool ideas take root.
My sons are both in elementary school and are learning to write code in Scratch. They will transition to languages like Python and Java when they are ready, but they are already learning fundamental Computer Science concepts like decision-making, iteration, and list processing that will enable them to create and innovate later.
CS News – Dancing Robots
Robots can do everything these days apparently. I thought I was a pretty good dancer until I saw this video. These guys have moves. We use robotics at my school as students really like designing the bots and making them do things. We try to show these types of articles to the kids so that they can see what is going on with robotics more sophisticated than the Lego NXT kits that we use. The Robo Soccer Dogs are also good examples.
CS News – Old People Like Scratch
Kids Teaching Scratch to Old Folks
This is a great article about the HILR program at Harvard. Teenagers are teaching retirees how to write programs and create amazing stuff using Scratch. I think this is awesome. My sons, 6 and 9, both use Scratch and have attempted to teach every one of their friends how to “Crank Code in Scratch”. It is very cool to see kids sharing their love for Comp Sci!
Disclaimer : I am using “Old Folks” and “Old People” in the title and link for the humor aspect only. Retirees rock!
DreamSpark
Alfred Thompson has a great blog post up about the DreamSpark program Microsoft offers to students for FREE! Yes, indeed – I did say FREE! I am not plugging Microsoft or on the payroll ( yet ), but I do think the program is great and hope more people learn about it. My students love all of the different tools provided. We hope to do more with it this year.
CS News – Scientists Use Algorithms to Create Vaccines
Algorithms Used to Create Vaccines
This is the stuff students need to hear about. Science and Computer Science being used together to prevent illness. Students like to see relevance in what they are learning and how they will use the skills later. I share these type of articles with my students all year long; they sure do help to provide real examples of the amazing stuff going on using Computer Science.
CS News – CMU Using Robots to Create CS Majors
CMU Using Robots to Create CS Majors
CMU is going to use the tremendous interest in robotics to get more students interested in Computer Science. Many of us at the high school level have been doing this for years. Students love working with robots due to the fact they can see the results of their ideas in action. Robots move and act out the solutions to the problems that students create. This is very engaging and exciting. Elementary, middle, and high school students find robotics very engaging. Using robotics also shows students another side of Computer Science that is very kinesthetic and social. Two things that are often lacking in typical Computer Science classes.
Way to go CMU!
Google Android App Inventor
Google Android App Inventor – direct link to the Google Site
Article about the App Inventor
I am a big fan of Scratch and feel that it is a great educational tool that accommodates a large number of different learning styles. Students gain confidence quickly with Scratch and learn tons of very important Computer Science concepts, including problem solving and algorithm development. Scratch helps to make Computer Science accessible to many students that otherwise would not have given the discipline a go.
I really like that the Google Android App Inventor is built using a block programming structure similar to that of Scratch. A student or child of any age will be able to use this tool. I have two elementary age sons that both program using Scratch and I am looking forward to seeing the Android Apps they create.
The Google Android App Inventor will be another great tool to use in schools to help teach Computer Science. Students will really enjoy that they can write useful applications that can run on their phones.
Here are a few articles that provide some compelling justification for learning how to design and create Android Apps.
CS News – Algo Ranks Soccer Players
Algorithm Ranks Soccer Players
Soccer is a great sport and the World Cup is in full swing. It is cool to see a Computer Science algorithm being used to add a new twist to sports. This actually happens all of the time as Computer Science powers tons of cool apps, but you do not always here about it. Sports and Computer Science – what a natural pairing!
CS News – Algo Detects Sarcasm
This is terrible news!
The whole fun in sarcasm is ensuring that the other people are unsure if you are serious or not.
If my sons get a hold of this algorithm, my jokes will all be useless or rather more useless than they are now.