Archive for August, 2009

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-30

Posted by admin in Uncategorized on August 30th, 2009

  • Another Worthwhile payroll is history! #
  • Teaching computer science-use to struggle w/OS configuration issues on student computers. Then came VM’s! I love em!! Abstractions r great! #
  • On the prowl for a Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 with under 10k miles. #
  • Is there a way to do a global rather than local search on craigslist? #
  • @rundle thanks dr. That’s what I am hunting for! in reply to rundle #
  • @mhamann I agree. Email your suggestion to jpait@BJU.edu. He works with alumni association’s online stuff. in reply to mhamann #
  • @jhatfiel this is sweet dude! Thanks. Was thinking about making this a program assignment in 111. in reply to jhatfiel #
  • @jhatfiel craigsfindr.com “are no longer” in reply to jhatfiel #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-23

Posted by admin in Uncategorized on August 23rd, 2009

  • Bak2 school means bit clean up.They say I consume the most diskspace of any computer science faculty!Imagine that. http://twitpic.com/edgsw #
  • Stronger economy requires fewer jobs not more! #

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Computational Thinking – What is it? How will we teach it?

Posted by admin in BJU, CpS 111, Education, Internship on August 21st, 2009

I am a strong supporter of liberal arts education. It is one of the reasons I am happy to teach where a teach – in a Christian, liberal arts college. I believe a liberal arts education does the best job of preparing a young person to be able to effectively participate in society. It gives them exposure to areas beyond just the one they might be specially gifted or interested in. As parents and students evaluate the increasing cost of higher education, one thing we need to market better are the benefits of a liberal arts over a purely technical education.

We have recently gone through a reevaluation and restructuring of what is called our “liberal arts core” courses. These are the set of courses which we want every graduate of our university to have under their belts. One of the courses which has been placed into that set is a computer science course. The next step is deciding what belongs in this course. The options are many:

  • computer applications – learning how to use word processing, spreadsheet, browser, email
  • computer programming – learning how to build software
  • computer setup and maintenance – learning how to select a computer, set it up and keep it working
  • Internet usage – netiquette, how to search, how to discern what is true in all the stuff out there, how to publish your own stuff
  • information management – learning how to manage electronic information or BITS

One of the topics which has taken hold in education circles is called Computation Thinking. What is it? The seminal paper on the topic is Jeanette Wing’s ACM viewpoint Computational Thinking. Here is a summary of the highlights of this paper. I put them here in the hopes that I can stimulate some thinking among my faculty as to what belongs in the core computer science course.

  • it is a way of thinking about problem solving which takes into account the strengths and limitations of computers
  • allows us to solve problems which cannot be solved by computers alone
  • allows us to solve problems which cannot be solved by people alone
  • probes the question “What is computable?”
  • it is a fundamental skill required by all, just as the famous 3 R’s (reading, riting and rithmetic)
  • a person doesn’t have to know how to write software in order to apply the principles of computational thinking to problem solving

Computational Thinking is:

  • fundamental skill for all
  • required in most 21st century problem solving scenarios
  • thinking recursively
  • using abstractions and decomposition
  • understanding the limitations of computers
  • thinking about prevention, protection and recovery from error scenarios
  • using heuristic reasoning to discover a solution

Characteristics of computational thinking

  • conceptualizing, not programming
  • fundamental, not rote skill
  • a way humans, not computers, think
  • complements and combines mathematical and engineering thinking
  • ideas, not artifacts
  • for everyone, everywhere

Jeanette ends here paper with a challenge that fits in well with the empahsis we’ve received this week during in service training – teaching our students how to think. “Professors of computer science should teach a course called – Ways to Think Like a Computer Scientist – to college freshman.

I implore your help to begin formulating the content for this new liberal arts core course in computational thinking. Add your comments below to help stimulate the creative juices God has given us all the ability to generate having been created in his image. :-)

Here is some recent (July 2010) material on this topic from ACM regarding inclusion of CT teaching in K-12.

Computational thinking (CT) is a problem solving process that includes (but is not limited to) the following characteristics:

• Formulating problems in a way that enables us to use a computer to help solve them
• Logically organizing and analyzing data
• Representing data through abstractions such as models and simulations
• Automating problem solving through algorithmic thinking
• Selecting a set of tradeoffs to achieve the most efficient and effective combination of steps and resources
• Generalizing and transferring this problem solving process to a wide variety of problems

These skills are supported and enhanced by a number of disposition or attitudes that may not be thought of as “thinking” skills but which may be another, essential dimension of CT.

These dispositions or attitudes include such things as:

• Confidence in dealing with complexity
• Persistence in working with difficult problems
• Tolerance for ambiguity
• The ability to deal with open ended problems
• The ability to communicate and work with others to achieve a common goal or solution

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-16

Posted by admin in Uncategorized on August 16th, 2009

  • Thot for the day: God doesn’t need google. He knows it ALL! He knows me, yet he loves me! #
  • Health care reform: sec 163, pg 59, lines 21-24: government will have direct access 2 yr bank acct 4 electronic funds xfer. #
  • A right view of God and the world to come requires that we have a right view of the world in which we live and our relationship to it. Tozer #
  • Last of the Woosters going for drivers license now! Wow, great times ahead for Joseph to grow his trust bank! http://yfrog.com/835zzj #
  • This is the way to fly to northern Wisconsin! http://yfrog.com/13cvsjj #
  • Great day on the golf course in northern Wisconsin raising funds for Northland students w/their Chancellor! http://twitpic.com/dqiu6 #
  • Jonathan my son, here’s a personal video message for you concerning graduate school :-) http://yfrog.us/7hv4vz #
  • Noah’s stock was riding high when the rest of the world was in liquidation. Les Ollila #
  • @PastorHobbins I will never forget all the blessings I have received thru being a part of LABC bus ministry!Praise God for this ministry! in reply to PastorHobbins #
  • @theBigLou last week? in reply to theBigLou #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-09

Posted by admin in Uncategorized on August 9th, 2009

  • http://twitpic.com/cj5cy – Welcome to the butterfly house here at Hershey Gardens. This guy saw fit to sit on my lap for a while. Person … #
  • Personally I can’t wait for the roller coasters at Hershey park tomorrow! #
  • @peterwald what’s a good plae to jump into exploring fp stuff for sd? in reply to peterwald #
  • http://twitpic.com/cop6z – Joy riding with my little girl at Hershey park! Parenting is so very rewarding! #
  • Radio ad for email appliance says “computer networks can’t talk”. But that’s exactly what they were designed to do! #
  • http://twitpic.com/cqfbk – Gr8 2c bju computer science grad, Microsoft employee, author of an outstanding biblical fiction Wayback #
  • http://twitpic.com/cs4cr – On the road into DC for MLB stadium #11 – Washington Nationals #
  • http://twitpic.com/cshr4 – Welcome to the home of the Washington Nationals! Here with my lovely wife and youngest son. #
  • http://twitpic.com/ct3xa – Huge rally in DC. Not political! #
  • http://twitpic.com/ct4df – Nats were down 4-0. I bought this hat. They r rallying 4-3! #
  • http://twitpic.com/ct5ru – @worthwhile it’s the hat baby it’s the hat. Worthwhile’s next promo item! Gotta luv the W! #
  • They say Verizon has exclusive contract with dc metro! No wonder iPhone shuts down in subway! :-( #
  • International Spy Museum in DC-they don’t allow pics! #
  • I love it! Enjoy the coasters. Coasters and baseball are 2 of my summertime joys! Tell her hi from a fellow coaster lover! #
  • The more connected we become the more vulnerable we become to terrorist acts – International Spy Museum in DC. #
  • Chick-fila does it again! Customer appreciation nite – waiters&waitresses, table clothes, flowers, free desert! http://yfrog.com/5fpokenoj #
  • Evolution requires an increase in genetic information. Natural selection & mutations both are a result of a loss of genetic information. #
  • @Worthwhile Lake Day on WorthIsle located on lovely Lake Keowee. http://yfrog.com/5p7owej #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-02

Posted by admin in Uncategorized on August 2nd, 2009

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