A Model for Improving Secondary CS Education Barbara Ericson, Mark Guzdial, Maureen Biggers Georgia Institute of Technology

The Problem Nationwide US Dept of Labor predicts the fastest growing occupations in US Dept of Labor predicts the fastest growing occupations in Computer Software EngineersComputer Software Engineers Computer System DesignersComputer System Designers Across the county the number of CS students is dropping (23%) Across the county the number of CS 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 Georgia Only about 50 schools of over 370 public schools offer AP CS Only about 50 schools of over 370 public schools offer AP CS Many of these are private schoolsMany of these are private schools Many students don’t take the exam Many 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 Career Education Department AP CS moved to Technology and Career Education Department Most of these teachers have no programming experienceMost of these teachers have no programming experience

One Solution ICE: The Institute for Computing Education ICE: The Institute for Computing Education Partnership betweenPartnership between Georgia Tech’s College of Computing Georgia Tech’s College of Computing Georgia Department of Education Georgia Department of Education Announced June 2004 by Kathy Cox and Richard DeMillo Announced June 2004 by Kathy Cox and Richard DeMillo

ICE History November 2003 Diversity Advisory Board meeting November 2003 Diversity Advisory Board meeting Nationally recognized professionalsNationally recognized professionals From academia and business From academia and business Including the Director of Technology and Career Education in GeorgiaIncluding the Director of Technology and Career Education in Georgia Discussions of the problems with CS and how to solve them Discussions of the problems with CS and how to solve them Led to the formation of ICELed to the formation of ICE

ICE Goals Train more CS-AP teachers Train more CS-AP teachers Start by training teachers for an introductory courseStart by training teachers for an introductory course even teachers with no experience even teachers with no experience When ready train for CS-AP courseWhen ready train for CS-AP course Increase the number and diversity of CS students Increase the number and diversity of CS students Interesting curriculumInteresting curriculum Help with recruitingHelp with recruiting

Summer week AP workshop 1 week AP workshop 17 teachers attended17 teachers attended 2 week Programming and Systems Management Workshop 2 week Programming and Systems Management Workshop 30 teachers attended30 teachers attended Two 1 week summer camps for high school students Two 1 week summer camps for high school students 30 students each week30 students each week

AP Workshop

AP Workshop Development Development Process Development Process Visits to classroomsVisits to classrooms Teacher surveysTeacher surveys Desired Content Desired Content Object-oriented principlesObject-oriented principles Case StudyCase Study Data StructuresData Structures

AP Workshop Content Short lectures (< 30 minutes) Short lectures (< 30 minutes) Followed by hands-on activitiesFollowed by hands-on activities Role-playing Role-playing OO Analysis using CRC cards OO Analysis using CRC cards UML class diagrams UML class diagrams Small programming assignments Small programming assignments Demonstrations of current research Demonstrations of current research Talk on encouraging diversity Talk on encouraging diversity

Prog and Sys Workshop

Prog and Sys Development Adapt curriculum from undergraduate course for non-majors at Tech Adapt curriculum from undergraduate course for non-majors at Tech Taught in PythonTaught in Python Developed by Mark GuzdialDeveloped by Mark Guzdial Teaches CS by manipulating media Teaches 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 groupsAttracting more women and underrepresented groups 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 Delivery Short Lectures (< 30 minutes) Short Lectures (< 30 minutes) Hands-on programming assignmentsHands-on programming assignments Role playingRole playing Demos of current research Demos of current research Robot dogs, aging in placeRobot dogs, aging in place Talk on diversity Talk on diversity Student panel discussion Student panel discussion

Prog and Sys Content Introduction to object-oriented concepts Introduction to object-oriented concepts Keywords and operators Keywords and operators Primitive and object variables Primitive and object variables Class and object methods Class and object methods Arrays Arrays 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 Interfaces Graphical User Interfaces Input/Output and Exceptions Input/Output and Exceptions Debugging Debugging

Goals for Content Motivating Motivating For students and teachersFor students and teachers Creative Creative Open-ended assignmentsOpen-ended assignments Authentic tasks Authentic tasks Start with what students use computers for (pictures, sounds, text, web, games)Start with what students use computers for (pictures, sounds, text, web, games)

Negate an Image

Mirroring

Rotation

Create a Collage

Remove ‘Red Eye’

Sepia-Tint

Chromakey

Teacher Collages

AP Results Survey results Survey 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 and lesson plans Teachers want sample test questions and lesson plans Some of the teachers are using the content Some of the teachers are using the content

Prog and Sys Results Survey results Survey 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 a slower pace Teachers with no experience wanted a slower pace Some of the teachers are using the content Some of the teachers are using the content

Quotes I didn’t want to take this workshop. I thought it would be boring and too math- based, but I am having fun. I didn’t want to take this workshop. I thought it would be boring and too math- based, but I am having fun. My kids won’t believe that I am programming for fun. My kids won’t believe that I am programming for fun. This was the best (non-college credit) workshop I have ever taken. This was the best (non-college credit) workshop I have ever taken. The demos were awesome. I wish I had thought ahead & had a video camera to record demos. The demos were awesome. I wish I had thought ahead & had a video camera to record demos.

Student Summer Camps Two one-week summer camps for high school students Two one-week summer camps for high school students Not residentialNot residential 30 students in each camp30 students in each camp Content Content 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 Camps

Student Summer Camp

What Else is ICE Doing? Winter/Spring 2-day Workshops Winter/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 Tech AP Bowl Competition at Tech April 16 thApril 16 th Developing a database of practice exam questions and answers Developing a database of practice exam questions and answers With explanations for all answersWith explanations for all answers

Extending the Case Study

Using Turtles, Robots, and Sound to Teach Java Use LEGO Robots and a visual programming language to introduce programming concepts Use LEGO Robots and a visual programming language to introduce programming concepts Use Turtle.java to control a virtual turtle using Java Use Turtle.java to control a virtual turtle using Java Use Karel J. Robot to control a virtual robot using Java Use Karel J. Robot to control a virtual robot using Java Use Sound manipulations to teach programming concepts Use Sound manipulations to teach programming concepts

LEGO Robots

RCX Code Visual Prog Language

Program a Turtle with Java

Program a Robot with Java

Using Sound to teach Java Write programs to reverse a sound, append sounds, make a sound clip, and construct a MIDI song Write programs to reverse a sound, append sounds, make a sound clip, and construct a MIDI song

Summer 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 week intermediate Prog. and Sys. June 28-July 1st week intermediate Prog. and Sys. June 28-July 1st 2005 Some programming experience requiredSome programming experience required 1 week College Board Endorsed AP July week College Board Endorsed AP July 18-22

ICE Resources Collaborative Website Collaborative Website Mailing lists Mailing lists Classroom visits Classroom visits Barbara Ericson Ericson Field trips Field trips Kristin Vadas Vadas Summer camps for students Summer camps for students

Model for Others Partnership between a Dept of Education and a University Partnership between a Dept of Education and a University Summer workshops and camps Summer workshops and camps With year-long follow-up for the teachersWith year-long follow-up for the teachers Can grow new CS-AP Teachers Can grow new CS-AP Teachers Even from teachers without much programming experienceEven from teachers without much programming experience Have teachers signing up for this summers AP workshop Have teachers signing up for this summers AP workshop

Challenges Funding Funding State provides some fundingState provides some funding For workshops For workshops Georgia Tech would like more supportGeorgia Tech would like more support From NSF, corporations, or foundations From NSF, corporations, or foundations Managing Expectations Managing 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