Computer Science Education Crystal - Intro us? Jessica Gorman and Crystal Noel Computer Systems 2008-09
Introduction Every day, technology becomes more advanced and accessible Little progress made at elementary school level Goal: to implement computer programming to educate elementary and/or middle school students in math and science Paul - This will be your slide.
What is the Scratch Program? Cardinal Forest Elementary School 25 min weekly classes Origins of the Program Gates Allard Jessica
Program Content Curriculum developing process Student Projects SOLs Introduction to Computer Science Student Projects Lesson plans Rubrics Introduction to new skills Blackboard jessica Very basic overview (go into detail later) when you get to blackboard...go to the next slide.
Blackboard Jessica
What is Scratch? Scratch Why Scratch? MIT Media Lab Kid-friendly Drag and drop text Multimedia Visually focused Crystal Go to Scratch and show example - just start a new project, do a freen flag and move to steps forever...easy
Developing a Curriculum Topics Integration of SOL topics Coordinate System Random Problem Solving Step-by-step process Independent Projects Computer Science Skills Loops Methods (Scripts) Crystal Why we chose to put the items in the curriculum that we did.
Time Line October- November: basic Scratch skills December- February: teacher designed projects March- May: game design and individual projects Crystal
Shapes Project Crystal Screenshot of Shapes Project pass out rubrics
Winter Wonderland Project Crystal Screen shot pass out rubrics
Fish Game Project Jessica Screen shot, pull up pdf of rubric and talk more in detail about the rubric
Research Topics Benefits of Computer Education Designing Computer Programs in Elementary School Computer Science for Young Minds Jessica
Benefits of a Computer Science Education Problem Solving Teamwork Dependability Procedure Observations Surveys Assessments Jessica
Observations Student A: Student B: One of brightest students Issues in the classroom, but not Scratch Opportunity to learn skills Student B: Very intelligent, yet quiet Kept to himself Came out of shell to help others Jessica
Surveys and Assessments Assessments record knowledge retained coordinate plane random broadcasting Surveys measure interest in computer science social skills
Designing Computer Programs in Elementary School Value in program design Problem solving skills Troubleshooting Independence Creativity Crystal
Project Design ‘Make your own rubric’ activities Individual projects Pac Man Super Mario Dodgeball Animated Story Crystal show blank rubric, talk about soccer, show student examples of soccer show drawings
Story Rubric Crystal Story rubric show sample student projects
Observations Lack of structure negatively influenced behavior Don’t see benefits of planning Reluctant to think for themselves Only productive when heavily directed Learning to brainstorm New creativity outlet Jessica
Computer Science for Young Minds Elements of an effective class Well-defined, but lax Teaching computer programming Immersion Unorthodox teaching methods Video conferencing Paul Abstract overview of project
Development and Procedures Curriculum-expanding on predecessor’s ideas Improvements required Videos with Scratch Part of auxillary research Created and used as teaching aids Paul
Development and Procedures Considered teleconferencing Initially abandoned, then reconsidered and implemented Paul
Problems Incompatibility Transportation Timing Latest Scratch for Linux: 1.2 Required: 1.3 Few formal sources for Scratch Transportation No car Timing Different period Paul
Results Students continue to learn Project successful Different paces observed Project successful Difficulties reasonably overcome Paul
Conclusion Computer as medium Students How young is too young? Teaching Students The sooner, the better How young is too young? Maybe never Paul
Future of Scratch Connections to other schools Videoconferencing Model program jessica after this we will move into video conferencing with Mr. Allard (hopefully)