1. Le Moyne College Summer Math Academy August 2007 Computational Thinking & Related Tools

2. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 2August 2007 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.”

3. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 3August 2007 Agenda Computational Thinking –What is it? Tools –Computer Science Unplugged –Alice –Scratch –Office suite

4. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 4August 2007 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 child’s analytical ability.”

5. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 5August 2007 Computational Thinking (cont’d) 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

6. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 6August 2007 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

7. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 7August 2007 Tools to promote Computational Thinking (cont’d) 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)

8. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 8August 2007 Tools to promote Computational Thinking (cont’d) 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)

9. Le Moyne College Summer Math AcademySlide 9August 2007 Tools to promote Computational Thinking (cont’d) 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.orgwww.openoffice.org –NeoOffice A free office suite for Mac OS X operating systems –See www.neooffice.orgwww.neooffice.org