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A Potpourri of Exciting CS Teaching Resources

Joe Kmoch

Milwaukee Public Schools

joe@jkmoch.com

May 4, 2007

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Resource List

• CSTA Web Repository

• CMU CS4HS July Workshop

• CS Unplugged

• Google Map APIs

• Greenfoot

• Alice, KarelJRobot

• Python, Squeak, Ruby

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CSTA CS Web Repository

• Searchable database of classroom and professional development CS and IT (information technology) materials

• Classification is based on the ACM K-12 CS Curriculum Standards

• Grew out of joint project of the College Board and ACM

• Development responsibility assumed by CSTA <csta.acm.org>

• http://csta.villanova.edu/CstaRepository/

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CSTA CS Web Repository

• Intent is to house materials generated by K-16 teachers which support teaching based on the ACM K-12 CS Standards

• Includes materials for programming topics as well as other IT areas included in the standards

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CSTA CS Web Repository

• Brief Review of ACM CS Standards

• Level 1 - K-8– Includes units to develop algorithmic

thinking and problem solving using technologies

Level 2: 9-12

Introduction to Computing course

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CSTA CS Web Repository

• Level 3: 10-12– Emphasizes algorithmic development and

problem solving skills development through programming

Level 4: 11-12

Includes a variety of CS and IT topics including APCS, Networking Support, other certifications, etc

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ACM Model Curriculum for K-12 CS

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How? (Using the Repository)

• Browse by classification

• Search by title, author, keyword, or date

• Download

• Free to CSTA members (and first year of membership is free!)

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Submitting Resources

• Who? CSTA members and other approved individuals (by request)

• Guidelines for classifying and submitting are available on CSTA Web site (template for organizing info, explanation of fields)

• All submitted resources will be reviewed before approval (small team of educators)

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Brief (online) demo

http

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sta.

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.edu

/Cst

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ry/

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http://www.cs.cmu.edu/cs4hs/

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CMU CS4HS Topics• Computational Thinking• CS Unplugged• Google <http://google.com/apis/maps/documentation>

• Food for Thought• Broadening Participation in CS• Raptor: Flowchart Simulator to Introduce CS Ideas w/o

coding• Security and mySpace• Human Computation• Robotics• Careers and Social Responsibility• Cognitive Tutors

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CMU CS4HS

• Great Conference

• You cover several meals and travel

• You pay $25 and the rest is covered

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Greenfoot

• Framework for 2-d grid assignments in Java

• Integrated Development Environment

• Aimed at novice programmers

• Object interaction and object visualization

• Simulation and Gaming

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ot.o

rg

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QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Greenfoot Wombat Demo

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Sample of other Greenfoot Scenarios

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Sample of other Greenfoot Scenarios

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Sample of other Greenfoot Scenarios

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Sample of other Greenfoot Scenarios

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Sample of other Greenfoot Scenarios

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Other OO Programming Environments to Look At

• Alice <alice.org>• KarelJRobot (just google kareljrobot - it’s 1st entry)

<csis.pace.edu/~bergin/KarelJava2ed/karelexperimental.html>

• Python <python.org> this may be the next pre-APCS language maybe even APCS?

• Squeak <squeak.org>• Ruby <ruby-lang.org> <rubyonrails.org>• http://computingcareers.acm.org