Le Moyne College Summer Math Academy

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Le Moyne College Summer Math Academy

• August 2007
• Computational Thinking Related Tools

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Computational Thinking Related Tools

• NYS Standard 5 Technology
• Engineering Design
• an iterative process involving modeling and
  optimization
• Tools, Resources, and Technological Processes
• should be selected on the basis of safety,
  cost, availability, appropriateness, and
  environmental impact
• Computer Technology
• have greatly increased human productivity and
  knowledge.

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Agenda

• Computational Thinking
• What is it?
• Tools
• Computer Science Unplugged
• Alice
• Scratch
• Office suite

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Computational Thinking

• Jeannette M. Wing, 2006, Computational
  Thinking, Communications of the ACM, 49(3),
  33-35.
• What is computational thinking?
• Solving problems
• Designing systems
• Understanding human behavior

To reading, writing, and arithmetic, we should
add computational thinking to every childs
analytical ability.
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Computational Thinking(contd)

• Characteristics?
• Conceptualizing, not programming
• Fundamental, not rote skill
• A way that humans, not computers, think
• Complements and combines mathematical and
  engineering thinking
• Ideas, not artifacts
• For everyone, everywhere

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Tools to promote Computational Thinking

• Computer Science Unplugged
• Provide teachers with activities to learn
  computer science concepts
• Activities do not use a computer!
• Designed for ages 7 and up
• From University of Canterbury
• http//unplugged.canterbury.ac.nz
• Discuss
• Free book (teacher instructions and materials)
• Sample Exercises
• Count the Dots binary numbers
• Colour by Numbers - image representation

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Tools to promote Computational Thinking (contd)

• Alice v2.0
• A 3D authoring system
• Focus
• Provide best possible first exposure to
  programming for students
• Designed for middle school to college students
• From Carnegie Mellon University
• http//www.alice.org
• Do
• Tutorial 1 (10 minutes)
• Tutorial 2 (15 minutes)

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Tools to promote Computational Thinking (contd)

• Scratch
• A new programming language
• Focus
• Make it easy to create interactive stories,
  animations, games, music, and art
• Share your creations via www
• Designed for ages 8 and up
• From MIT
• http//scratch.mit.edu/
• Do
• Intro Video tutorial (5 minutes)
• Image Effects tutorial (3 minutes)

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Tools to promote Computational Thinking (contd)

• Office suites
• Typically include
• word processing, spreadsheet, presentation
• database (optional)
• Microsoft Office
• Mucho dinero!
• OpenOffice
• A free office suite for Windows operating systems
• See www.openoffice.org
• NeoOffice
• A free office suite for Mac OS X operating
  systems
• See www.neooffice.org