A Model for Improving Secondary CS

Education

Barbara Ericson, Mark Guzdial, Maureen Barbara Ericson, Mark Guzdial, Maureen BiggersBiggers

ericson@cc.gatech.edu ericson@cc.gatech.edu Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology

The Problem NationwideThe Problem Nationwide

US Dept of Labor predicts the fastest US Dept of Labor predicts the fastest growing occupations in 2002-2012growing occupations in 2002-2012• Computer Software EngineersComputer Software Engineers• Computer System DesignersComputer System Designers

Across the county the number of CS Across the county the number of CS students is dropping (23%)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 GeorgiaThe Problem in Georgia

Only about 50 schools of over 370 Only about 50 schools of over 370 public schools offer AP CSpublic schools offer AP CS• Many of these are private schoolsMany of these are private schools

Many students don’t take the examMany 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 AP CS moved to Technology and Career Education DepartmentCareer Education Department• Most of these teachers have no Most of these teachers have no

programming experienceprogramming experience

One SolutionOne Solution

ICE: The Institute for Computing ICE: The Institute for Computing EducationEducation• Partnership between Partnership between

Georgia Tech’s College of ComputingGeorgia Tech’s College of Computing Georgia Department of EducationGeorgia Department of Education

Announced June 2004 by Kathy Cox Announced June 2004 by Kathy Cox and Richard DeMilloand Richard DeMillo

ICE HistoryICE History

November 2003 Diversity Advisory November 2003 Diversity Advisory Board meetingBoard meeting• Nationally recognized professionalsNationally recognized professionals

From academia and businessFrom academia and business

• Including the Director of Technology and Including the Director of Technology and Career Education in GeorgiaCareer Education in Georgia

Discussions of the problems with CS Discussions of the problems with CS and how to solve themand how to solve them• Led to the formation of ICELed to the formation of ICE

ICE GoalsICE Goals

Train more CS-AP teachersTrain more CS-AP teachers• Start by training teachers for an Start by training teachers for an

introductory course introductory course even teachers with no experienceeven teachers with no experience

• When ready train for CS-AP courseWhen ready train for CS-AP course Increase the number and diversity of Increase the number and diversity of

CS students CS students • Interesting curriculumInteresting curriculum• Help with recruitingHelp with recruiting

Summer 2004Summer 2004

1 week AP workshop1 week AP workshop• 17 teachers attended17 teachers attended

2 week Programming and Systems 2 week Programming and Systems Management WorkshopManagement Workshop• 30 teachers attended30 teachers attended

Two 1 week summer camps for high Two 1 week summer camps for high school studentsschool students• 30 students each week30 students each week

AP WorkshopAP Workshop

AP Workshop DevelopmentAP Workshop Development

Development Development ProcessProcess• Visits to classroomsVisits to classrooms• Teacher surveysTeacher surveys

Desired ContentDesired Content• Object-oriented Object-oriented

principlesprinciples• Case StudyCase Study• Data StructuresData Structures

AP Workshop ContentAP Workshop Content

Short lectures (< 30 minutes)Short lectures (< 30 minutes)• Followed by hands-on activitiesFollowed by hands-on activities

Role-playingRole-playing OO Analysis using CRC cards OO Analysis using CRC cards UML class diagramsUML class diagrams Small programming assignmentsSmall programming assignments

Demonstrations of current researchDemonstrations of current research Talk on encouraging diversityTalk on encouraging diversity

Prog and Sys WorkshopProg and Sys Workshop

Prog and Sys DevelopmentProg and Sys Development Adapt curriculum from undergraduate Adapt curriculum from undergraduate

course for non-majors at Techcourse for non-majors at Tech• Taught in Python Taught in Python • Developed by Mark GuzdialDeveloped by Mark Guzdial

Teaches CS by manipulating mediaTeaches 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 Attracting more women and underrepresented

groupsgroups• 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 DeliveryProg 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 researchDemos of current research• Robot dogs, aging in placeRobot dogs, aging in place

Talk on diversityTalk on diversity Student panel discussionStudent panel discussion

Prog and Sys ContentProg and Sys Content Introduction to object-oriented conceptsIntroduction to object-oriented concepts Keywords and operatorsKeywords and operators Primitive and object variablesPrimitive and object variables Class and object methodsClass and object methods ArraysArrays 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 InterfacesGraphical User Interfaces Input/Output and ExceptionsInput/Output and Exceptions DebuggingDebugging

Goals for ContentGoals for Content

MotivatingMotivating• For students and teachersFor students and teachers

CreativeCreative• Open-ended assignmentsOpen-ended assignments

Authentic tasksAuthentic tasks• Start with what students use computers Start with what students use computers

for (pictures, sounds, text, web, games)for (pictures, sounds, text, web, games)

Negate an ImageNegate an Image

MirroringMirroring

RotationRotation

Create a CollageCreate a Collage

Remove ‘Red Eye’Remove ‘Red Eye’

Sepia-TintSepia-Tint

ChromakeyChromakey

Teacher CollagesTeacher Collages

AP ResultsAP Results

Survey resultsSurvey 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 Teachers want sample test questions and lesson plansand lesson plans

Some of the teachers are using the Some of the teachers are using the contentcontent

Prog and Sys ResultsProg and Sys Results

Survey resultsSurvey 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 Teachers with no experience wanted a slower pacea slower pace

Some of the teachers are using the Some of the teachers are using the contentcontent

QuotesQuotes

I didn’t want to take this workshop. I I didn’t want to take this workshop. I thought it would be boring and too math-thought it would be boring and too math-based, but I am having fun.based, but I am having fun.

My kids won’t believe that I am My kids won’t believe that I am programming for fun.programming for fun.

This was the best (non-college credit) This was the best (non-college credit) workshop I have ever taken.workshop I have ever taken.

The demos were awesome. I wish I had The demos were awesome. I wish I had thought ahead & had a video camera to thought ahead & had a video camera to record demos. record demos.

Student Summer CampsStudent Summer Camps

Two one-week summer camps for high Two one-week summer camps for high school studentsschool students• Not residentialNot residential• 30 students in each camp30 students in each camp

ContentContent• 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 CampsStudent Summer Camps

Student Summer CampStudent Summer Camp

Student Summer CampStudent Summer Camp

What Else is ICE Doing?What Else is ICE Doing?

Winter/Spring 2-day WorkshopsWinter/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 TechAP Bowl Competition at Tech• April 16April 16thth

Developing a database of practice exam Developing a database of practice exam questions and answersquestions and answers• With explanations for all answersWith explanations for all answers

Extending the Case StudyExtending the Case Study

Using Turtles, Robots, and Sound Using Turtles, Robots, and Sound to Teach Javato Teach Java

Use LEGO Robots and a visual Use LEGO Robots and a visual programming language to introduce programming language to introduce programming conceptsprogramming concepts

Use Turtle.java to control a virtual Use Turtle.java to control a virtual turtle using Javaturtle using Java

Use Karel J. Robot to control a virtual Use Karel J. Robot to control a virtual robot using Javarobot using Java

Use Sound manipulations to teach Use Sound manipulations to teach programming conceptsprogramming concepts

LEGO RobotsLEGO Robots

RCX Code Visual Prog LanguageRCX Code Visual Prog Language

Program a Turtle with JavaProgram a Turtle with Java

Program a Robot with JavaProgram a Robot with Java

Using Sound to teach JavaUsing Sound to teach Java

Write programs to reverse a sound, Write programs to reverse a sound, append sounds, make a sound clip, append sounds, make a sound clip, and construct a MIDI songand construct a MIDI song

Summer 2005 WorkshopsSummer 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 2005

1 week intermediate Prog. and Sys. 1 week intermediate Prog. and Sys. June 28-July 1st 2005 June 28-July 1st 2005 • Some programming experience requiredSome programming experience required

1 week College Board Endorsed AP 1 week College Board Endorsed AP July 18-22July 18-22

ICE ResourcesICE Resources Collaborative WebsiteCollaborative Website

• http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gthttp://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt Mailing listsMailing lists

• gacs-teachers-psm@cc.gatech.edugacs-teachers-psm@cc.gatech.edu • gacs-teachers-ap@cc.gatech.edugacs-teachers-ap@cc.gatech.edu

Classroom visitsClassroom visits• Barbara Ericson Barbara Ericson ericson@cc.gatech.eduericson@cc.gatech.edu

Field trips Field trips • Kristin Vadas Kristin Vadas vadas@cc.gatech.eduvadas@cc.gatech.edu

Summer camps for studentsSummer camps for students• http://http://www.cc.gatech.edu/campicewww.cc.gatech.edu/campice//

Model for OthersModel for Others

Partnership between a Dept of Partnership between a Dept of Education and a University Education and a University

Summer workshops and campsSummer workshops and camps• With year-long follow-up for the With year-long follow-up for the

teachersteachers Can grow new CS-AP Teachers Can grow new CS-AP Teachers

• Even from teachers without much Even from teachers without much programming experienceprogramming experience

Have teachers signing up for this summers Have teachers signing up for this summers AP workshopAP workshop

ChallengesChallenges

FundingFunding• State provides some funding State provides some funding

For workshopsFor workshops

• Georgia Tech would like more supportGeorgia Tech would like more support From NSF, corporations, or foundationsFrom NSF, corporations, or foundations

Managing ExpectationsManaging 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