Computer Science K–8: Building a Strong Foundation Adrienne Decker School of Interactive Games & Media Rochester Institute of Technology Carl Alphonce Department of Computer Science & Engineering University at Buffalo

This presentation is on the web https://sites.google.com/site/wnycsta/ Look for Fall Conference 2012 Page

Motivation We know there is a computing pipeline problem One example (AP Computer Science) In 2008, 17% of the tests taken in AP CS were taken by women. But, 55% of the AP exams overall were taken by women Underrepresented minorities take 11% of the AP CS exams, they take 19% of the overall AP exams.

Possible Solution Spark interest earlier in the pipeline Earlier than high school Earlier than middle school Start in Kindergarten

Kindergarten? It’s actually not a new idea, Seymour Papert created the first programming language to be used by children (LOGO) in 1967. He felt that even children as young as kindergarten could become engaged with programming.

Scratch & Scratch Jr Scratch Jr (Pre-K through Grade 2) http://ase.tufts.edu/DevTech/ScratchJr/ScratchJrHome.asp Scratch (Ages 8+) http://scratch.mit.edu Scratch for educators website: http://scratched.media.mit.edu/

Virtual Manipulatives The Virtual Manipulatives Library http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html Ladybug Maze http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_141_g_1_t_3. html?open=activities&from=grade_g_1.html

Bee-bots http://www.terrapinlogo.com/bee-bot.php Simple robot programming to get the bee to spell words

Computational Thinking http://csta.acm.org/Curriculum/sub/CurrFiles/472.11CT TeacherResources_2ed-SP-vF.pdf Learning Experiences centered around computational thinking in K-12 classrooms. Fully developed lessons with grade level, relation back to the common core standards.

Middle School Computer Science https://www.cs.hmc.edu/twiki/bin/view/CS5/2012Version https://www.cs.hmc.edu/twiki/bin/view/CS5/2013Version Curriculum for middle school (possibly tech ed class). Gives daily lesson plans and activities for integrating and introducing computing concepts

Thinking Myself http://games.thinkingmyself.com/ Computational Thinking lessons through online game interface. Non-digital versions available here: http://games.thinkingmyself.com/analog

EToys http://etoysillinois.org/ Lesson plans for using etoys available in the K-8 report

Programming Environments (Aimed at younger audiences) Alice Scratch

Game Creation Environments GameMaker Kodu Greenfoot

CSTA K-12 Curriculum Model curriculum for infusing computing in the K-12 classroom K–8 learning objectives Computational Thinking Collaboration Computing Practice and Programming Computers and Communication Devices Community, Global and Ethical Impacts

CSTA K-12 Curriculum Each objective is further broken down into two levels Computer Science and Me (K–6) Integrating basic skills in technology with simple ideas about computational thinking. Computer Science and Community (6–9) Using computational thinking as a problem-solving tool.

Take a peek at the report at: K-8 Curriculum Special Issue http://csta.acm.org/Curriculum/sub/CurrFiles/CS_K- 8_Building_a_Foundation.pdf K-12 Curriculum Document http://csta.acm.org/Curriculum/sub/CurrFiles/CSTA_K- 12_CSS.pdf

CSTA Website http://csta.acm.org/index.html

CS Bits & Bytes Newsletter http://www.nsf.gov/cise/csbytes/ Logic Exercise 2 Ann has 281 Facebook friends. Sarah has 43 Facebook friends. Trey has more than twice the Facebook friends that Sarah has but less than half the Facebook friends Ann has. Jeff has 15 more Facebook friends than Trey. Deb has 64 fewer Facebook friends than Jeff. If Jan has more Facebook friends than Deb but less than Jeff, What are the possible numbers of Facebook friends that Jan has? ______________ Class Discussion: How do you determine who is trustworthy in your real life? How do you determine who is trustworthy online? How are these the same/different?