Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Abstraction, Methods, and Lists
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Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Abstraction, Methods, and Lists
This course is part of Computational Thinking & Block Programming in K-12 Education Specialization
Instructor: Beth Simon
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6 assignments
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There are 6 modules in this course
How do gamers cause things to happen when they hit buttons on their controller? How does the computer keep track of gamer's scores?
This class teaches the concepts of nested loops, events, and variables. For each concept, we'll start by helping you connect real-world experiences you are already familiar with to the programming concept you are about to learn. Next, through a cognitively scaffolded process we'll engage you in developing your fluency with problem solving with nested loops, events, and variables in a way that keeps frustration at a minimum. Along the way you will learn about the common challenges or "bugs" students have with these concepts as well as ways to help them find and fix those concepts. You'll also be guided in running classroom discussions to help students develop deeper understanding of these concepts. Finally, you'll learn how to develop low-frustration learning experiences for learning programming via Parsons' Problems., Additionally, you will create an email to either a counselor, administrator or parent organization to help them understand the value of all students taking computer science.
What's included
2 videos2 readings1 discussion prompt
2 videosβ’Total 7 minutes
- Welcome!β’4 minutes
- Optional: The Computational Thinking & Block Programming in K-12 Education Specializationβ’3 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 13 minutes
- Using Googledocs in this Courseβ’3 minutes
- Why Snap? Create your accountβ’10 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 10 minutes
- Get to know your fellow learners!β’10 minutes
Examine how abstraction is manifested in everyday things and look at an example using song lyrics. Practice your programming skills and apply your knowledge of parameters when writing method definitions in Snap programs. Learn some common debugging challenges/tips and create your own abstraction assignment.
What's included
4 videos4 readings1 assignment
4 videosβ’Total 34 minutes
- What are interactive puzzles?β’5 minutes
- Debugging: Methods and Parametersβ’12 minutes
- (Optional) Writing Programs: What's Special for Teachers?β’4 minutes
- Debugging: Methods and Parametersβ’12 minutes
4 readingsβ’Total 110 minutes
- Functions and Variables in Song (no, you don't have to sing)β’40 minutes
- Interactive Puzzles Instructionsβ’10 minutes
- Interactive Puzzles Instructions: Abstractionsβ’20 minutes
- Create a Program using Abstractionβ’40 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 4 minutes
- Puzzle It Outβ’4 minutes
Revisit the concept of abstractions with some non-interactive practice problems. Go through some especially tricky problems in a collaborative activity to reinforce the idea that computers do what you tell them to do, not what you hope they do! Finally, we'll learn about the fundamentals of recursion and how block-based graphical environments can make learning recursion visual and easier!
What's included
9 videos2 readings2 assignments1 app item
9 videosβ’Total 50 minutes
- (Optional) More programming puzzles -- but different!β’9 minutes
- Classroom Discussion: Abstractionsβ’10 minutes
- Introducing: Recursionβ’9 minutes
- Recursion: Guided Code Modificationβ’5 minutes
- Recursion: Pencilcode.netβ’11 minutes
- Optional: How to Use Stepper to "Follow Along" DrawNestedSquare - Original Codeβ’2 minutes
- Optional: How to Use Stepper to "Follow Along" DrawNestedSquare - Stop Earlierβ’1 minute
- Optional: How to Use Stepper to "Follow Along" DrawNestedSquare - Decrease Size by 20β’2 minutes
- Optional: How to Use Stepper to "Follow Along" DrawNestedSquare - Change Offsetβ’1 minute
2 readingsβ’Total 35 minutes
- Non-Interactive Programming Puzzlesβ’25 minutes
- YouTube programming resourcesβ’10 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 20 minutes
- Check your knowledge quizβ’5 minutes
- Concept Mastery Quiz: Abstractionβ’15 minutes
1 app itemβ’Total 40 minutes
- Collaborative Knowledge Construction - Abstractionβ’40 minutes
Define lists and discuss uses and representations of lists. Unscramble programs in Snap to better understand the possible operations you can perform with lists. Identify common challenges that students face, create your own assignment, and learn debugging tips.
What's included
4 videos3 readings1 assignment
4 videosβ’Total 18 minutes
- Lists and Sortingβ’4 minutes
- What do you think?β’0 minutes
- Debugging Lists: Conceptβ’5 minutes
- Debugging Lists: Patternsβ’9 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 76 minutes
- Before you start... we need your opinionβ’6 minutes
- Interactive Puzzles Instructions: Listsβ’30 minutes
- Create a Lists Programβ’40 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 5 minutes
- Puzzle It Outβ’5 minutes
Revisit the concept of lists with some non-interactive practice problems. Discuss the common mistakes students make while initializing lists and how to better distinguish between index and data. Find an educational video about how lists are used.
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments1 app item
2 videosβ’Total 13 minutes
- Classroom Discussion: Listsβ’9 minutes
- From Searching to Sortingβ’4 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 30 minutes
- Non-Interactive Programming Puzzlesβ’30 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 26 minutes
- Check your knowledge quizβ’6 minutes
- Concept Mastery Quiz: Listsβ’20 minutes
1 app itemβ’Total 40 minutes
- Collaborative Knowledge Construction: Listsβ’40 minutes
Explore issues of culturally relevant teaching as specific to computer science classrooms -- and some ideas for making our computing classes more culturally relevant. Modify an unplugged activity to be more culturally relevant -- and get some additional ideas from reviewing the work of others!
What's included
1 video
1 videoβ’Total 12 minutes
- Culturally Responsive Teaching & Computer Science Classroomsβ’12 minutes
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