Five Things YOU Can Do To Help Computer Science Education

This week Time magazine ran an article: Can We Fix Computer Science Education in America? You should go read it. No problem, Ill wait.

The tech industry is one of the few bright spots in a dim economy. So why arent we teaching kids the skills they need to participate in it?

Indeed.

The good news is there are a lot of folks out there working on this.

 

  There are of course there are programs like Exploring Computer Science and the new CS Principles pilot that offer curriculum and training for teachers trying to build computer science in our schools.

But the real question is what are YOU doing? This issue impacts all of us. It is not OK to just sit there hoping someone else is plugging away at this. Seriously, Cameron Wilsons great, but hes pretty busy already.Five things you should do NOW to help computer science education:

1. Get every kid you know under the age of 10 hooked on Scratch or Alice or even QBasic. Let them play, and ask questions, and show off what they make.

1. Ask if computer science is in your local schools - then ask why not. Oh, and dont just ask about your school...ask about that other one, down the block. The urban/rural/under-served school. Those kids need this too.

1. Stop blaming guidance counselors and administrators and every other bogey man out there. No one likes whiners, and those folks are busy worrying about dropout rates and intruder drills and grumpy parents. Give them something to value in computer science. Positive energy breeds long term success. Make the Computer Science program something they can brag about.

1. Go to a CSTA meeting. No local chapter? Start one - its super easy. 

1. Select one:

• If you are in Virginia - comment on the new technology SOLs. Not sure what to say? Hows this: Computer Science is the discipline underlying all innovation, especially in the STEM fields. Our students need to move beyond just working on learning computer applications to learning the computer science topics that will build their success in school and future careers. Computer Science should be included in the Computer Technology SOLs.

• Dont live in Virginia? First, yes our standardized tests are called SOLs. No, that is not a joke. Second - find your state standards. Is computer science in there? Just figuring out where you state stands is a great first step.

So my question for you - what are YOU doing?

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So why do we need CS Principles

I have been asked a lot this past year about why CS Principles is being developed.

Even though computer science is all about change, and the changes in our field seem to zoom by at lightning speed, there are some core ideas and well, principles, that are central to understanding how they work.

For those of us in the AP Computer Science community we do a great job of delivering computer science education. We all can point to students we have launched into the world. These students have overcome obstacles and are working and creating jobs in all sorts of places.

Sadly, this is not enough.

The existing computer science curriculum in K-12 schools does a good job for the few students it reaches, but what about everyone else? Think about where you are....how many schools around you have computer science? How many students in those schools have access to the classes?

Really, how many kids in your community even know what computer science is?

For me it is a question of literacy. To be a productive person you must be literate in the tools society is using to drive change. For that past few centuries this meant reading and writing. While these skills are still necessary for students, understanding computers and technology has become the new marker of literacy.

Simply put, anyone that does not have a foundation in computer science will not be as prepared for the changes to come.

This does not mean that every student needs to master computer science. There will always be a need for a core group of programmers that have reached a master level of understanding. These are the people that, to quote Virginia Tech, invent the future. We need more of these people. We also need these people to reflect the needs of the larger community they serve through their innovation.

And for everyone else? The computer is the tool of the future. We communicate, learn, work create...all with computing devices. To use them well means understanding some fundamental things about how they work and what they can, and cannot, do.

Think about Mr. Rodgers - "these are the people in your neighborhood". How many of them could do their job without a computer? How much of their daily life outside of work- communicating, playing, making, could happen without a computer?

Often in media computers are presented as magic. The character pushes a button and poof - the problem is solved. Those of us in CS know this is just slight of hand. Behind the scenes someone created a tool on a computer to solve the problem.

So this is why we need the CS Principles course. Every student in America needs a rigorous preparation for their future. That preparation must include computer science. Without access to computer science we run the risk innovation looking like magic, only available to those that know the trick.

Last week the CS Principles Phase II piloters met in Chicago. This is a great group of folks working hard to design the curriculum for this new computer science course. I have been so lucky this year to be a part of this community. It has been tiring, frustrating, humbling...and all totally worth it.  Hopefully after this year we have all pushed the rock a bit farther up the hill.

Everything you need to know about CS Principles. This page has all the documents that frame the course. One easy place for all the information.

Take a look, ask some questions. It is time for us as a community to really start the conversation on making the change happen.

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Data Unit Lets do the Numbers

Today we started the unit on data in the CS Principles

Sketch for Day 1 - (I am a visual planner)

This is probably the trickiest of all of the CS Principles Big Ideas. Data is just a big toic - a lot of ideas under one umbrella. For most Computer Science teachers it is not a topic that was a part of our training and it is not something we are used to teaching. It is a fairly new topic to computer science in general and I do think we are not yet sure how to approach the topic so that it is understandable and engaging for high school kids and also reachers the rigor of a college level course.

My approach for this Unit ("Lets do the Numbers") is to cover a few topics. Well do the Data portfolio this unit. We need to look at number calculations in coding. This includes some ideas like roudoff error and will also tie back to the topics we did at the beginning of the year around data representation. If we have the time well also do some things around modeling and simulation.

This is a change for this year. Last year we got bogged down with coding and lost sight of the data aspects. really they dont need to amster all teh minutia of numeric processing, but you do want them to connect that processing to some pretty big changes happening in computer science right now.

A note of caution on Data - not all Data is BIG. There is a lot of buzz around the idea of Big data and it is important to to implement this with fidelity to the actual CS Principles standards. Big Idea II is Data, and it states:

Data: Data and information facilitate the creation of knowledge.

There are seven "Supporting Concepts" for this. Only one of them mentions Big Data.

(As an aside "supporting concepts??"- I know - sometimes I also wish we just got a topic list like the regular APCS and be done with it. Trust me, youll get used to it).

So What? The point is not everything your kids will be doing for this topic involve big data sets. A lot of it really is just engaging with the topic and making connections outside the computer science lab.

Here are the thinking points I want my kids walking away with for the data topics:

• Is it true?
• What data is being collected about me?
• How has data changed scientific research?
• How is data stored?
• Is data always good?

And really, arent these basic civics topics for anyone living on the Internet?

---

The Unit --> Heres a list of what we are doing for the unit

• Day 1: Introduction
• Day 2: Notes on Data and Explore a Simple Data Set 
• Day 3: Explore Data in a Spreadsheet
• Day 4: Asking Questions
• Day 5: Questions 
• Day 6: Start on the Data Portfolio
• Day 7: Portfolio - Crunching the Numbers
• Day 8: Portfolio Due
• Day 9: Code - number calculations in C++ and Roundoff Error

• 
  

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Binary Flippy Do How To

Today in AP Computer Science Principles we made the Analog Binary Calculator. We have been working up towards binary. I do not start them with the big explanation of This Is Binary.

Instead I do a series of puzzles as warm ups and exit tickets for the week or so before the actual lesson. That way by the time we get to full scale binary they have had some positive experiences and built their own understanding of how binary works.

(Why do I even do Binary? Here you go)

So for example I show them a picture of two light switches and point out they can either be on or off. Working with a partner they have to figure out how many numbers they can store using the light switches. What if we add a third switch, how many then? Without listing all the combinations can you predict how many numbers you could represent with 4 switches? This makes a great warm up activity.

The great thing about the flippy do is it is super easy to translate numbers back and forth. My stronger math kids pick up the number theory behind it quickly, while my weaker math students are successful so they will stick with it rather than tuning out.

If you also cover the full twos comp representation it is also an incredibly easy way to teach the steps.

Materials:

• Index cards - 4x6 or larger
• Markers
• Scissors 
• Rulers - helpful, but not necessary

Steps:

First you fold up the bottom 1/4, draw 8 columns, and cut the bottom flippy things like this:

Can you tell this is my white board?

Second, you label the powers of two. Then put 1s on the back of the flaps and zeros underneath as shown:

Then I have them do a few puzzles:

• How may ways can you represent 13? 3? 15?
• Count from 0 to 13. Any pattern with even/odd numbers?
• What is the largest number this can store?
• What is 01111111? 00111111? 00011111? - what is the pattern here?

The point here is, if I just tell them that there is only one way to make any base ten number in binary it goes in one ear and out the other. Snore.

If instead they are doing a puzzle, and after a few realize THEMSELVES that there is only one combo per number, they internalize that at a different level. They dont forget it.

After all this we do the algorithm to change from binary to base ten and back. The best part is when the kid in the back, the one that hates math, tells their neighbor "Hey, I actually get this".

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How Do I Overclock My CPU

Overclocking could be both exciting and dangerous. The exciting thing about overclocking is that you could improve the computer’s performance up to 50%. This includes your processors, graphic cards and RAM. The dangerous part of overclocking is that it might damage your hardware permanently if you are not careful.

To learn how to overclock effectively and safely, I highly recommend you to download Overclock Your CPU.



Overclocking is basically like forcing your computer to work faster. Instead of walking, you are asking them to run. If you are careless in monitoring the heat, you might toast your hardware. Fortunately, there are programs that are able to monitor the heat and alert you if they are overheated. Some programs might automatically shut down your PC.

Personally, I have never done overclocking because I treat them as babies. Before you start, you should make sure you have good cooling hardware and heat monitoring programs for your computer.

So, how do I overclock my cpu?

Most overclocking works are done on BIOS. Before your computer reaches Window, you need to access the BIOS and configure the settings for your CPU, RAM and Graphic Cards.

Here’re 2 important tips while you overclock your CPU:

Don’t increase your performance 50% suddenly. It is dangerous to do so. Increase 10% and slowly move up.

Always search for opinions and reviews from people who had overclock their CPU and hardware on forums or search engines.

Click Here To Learn How To Overclock From The Professional

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Where Do Wireless Surround Sound Loudspeaker Products Acquire Their Power

By Mike Heller

You will find a few choices offered designed for setting up rear home entertainment loudspeakers such as directly wiring the speakers to your Audio-video receiver and utilizing a cordless surround system to eradicate the speaker cord clutter. Following that, I am going to look at the power supplies which supply these kinds of wireless products with power plus make clear a few of the most significant prerequisites which these types of power supplies have to meet.

Both the transmitter and receiver which are part of the cordless kit need power and thus have to be plugged into an outlet. You will find several options that supply the cordless receiver with power. One particular of these options is to work with an exterior AC adapter or wallwart that connects to a mains outlet. Another choice would be to make use of a power source which is entirely incorporated into the wireless receiver.

Wireless receivers which have an external wallwart dont need to include a power source. So they can be made significantly smaller. The exterior ac adapter typically is pretty small too and often plugs directly into a mains wall socket. Another kind of AC adapter offers an IEC type power jack. This jack hooks up to a mains electric outlet by employing a cord. Those AC adapters are really similar to those used by laptops. Combining a separate ac adapter is quite useful from a companys perspective given that regardless what nation the system is marketed to, a country-specific wallwart may be bundled. On top of that, quite a few wallwarts are already approved for safety. This will help save a lot of money in comparison with being required to safety approve the receiver. Theyre also less expensive to swap in the event of malfunction as opposed to changing the whole cordless receiver. Cordless surround amplifiers that have built-in power source are simpler to put in because they directly plug into a mains wall socket. Then again, they are typically more bulky.

Next, I am going to discuss what prerequisites the power supply has to satisfy. Safety is key. Consequently, the power supply needs to abide by the safety requirements that relate to each region which the product is marketed in. You can find a number of safety regulations in various nations. But, these requirements are made with the safety of the user at heart. One factor covered in almost all regulations is how well the individual is protected from potential electrical shock. Additionally, the power supply should not get too hot during normal function and also possess ample protection in case of an overload. Power supplies that have passed safety screening generally bear a UL or CE logo. When the power source is built-in into the cordless receiver then the receiver has this logo.

The power source needs to provide ample power to the RF receiver as well as power amplifier section. The RF receiver component decodes the cordless sound signal. The power supply has to be dimensioned large enough in order to supply the music amplifier with enough current in order to drive a connected speaker at the specified RMS wattage level no less than 10 minutes. A bigger factor than the continuous current specification is the top current specification. Audio signals hardly ever possess a continuous power envelope. Rather, audio has a lot of peaks. Therefore the power supply has to be ready to maintain a pretty big top current during short time bursts. The sound performance of the wireless receiver also depends upon how clean the power is which is provided by the power source. A great deal of voltage noise and ripple may result in the music performance to diminish. As such voltage noise as well as ripple are some additional vital requirements. A handful of high-end audio equipment utilizes linear power supplies despite their weight plus size because of the good noise performance. Without a doubt nearly all of current consumer products employ switched-mode power sources due to their small size. Ordinarily the interior parts need several supply voltages. Normally you can find a few voltages offered by the power supply to supply the individual components. For safety considerations, power supplies in most cases also have numerous protection techniques. The most prevalent types of safeguards are overload / short-circuit protection and over-temperature protection.

About the Author:

Go to this helpful resource to help you come across useful resources about wireless home theatre systems.

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