exploring computer science
Exploring Computer Science is one of my favorite classes to teach because it is an umbrella or buffet class that covers a lot of topics over the course of a semester. It emphasizes to the students that the development of new technology continues to grow at an exponential rate; and as students enter this fast-paced world for college and careers, learning to function in our increasingly digital world is requisite for success. Students will spend time learning and applying coding principles by learning to code in Python, creating their own website portfolios, understanding the application of machine learning/artificial intelligence, user experience design, 3D printing, binary, algorithms, computer hardware, robotics, and drones.
Canvas Course Overview
The following is a walkthrough of my Canvas course for Exploring Computer Science. There are ten units in this course with an optional five more if there is time:
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Unit 1: History of Computer Programing and Careers
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Unit 2: Computer Hardware
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Unit 3: Machine Learning
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Unit 4: Artificial Intelligence
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Unit 5: Social Responsibility of Web Development
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Unit 6: HTML & CSS
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Unit 7: Robotics
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Unit 8: Binary
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Unit 9: Algorithms
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Unit 10: Python: Variables and Expressions
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Unit 11: Python: Loops and Lists
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Unit 12: Python: Functions and Conditionals
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Unit 13: Review
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Unit 14: Electronics Basics with Art
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Unit 15: Game Development
The Exploring CS class begins with teaching an overview of computer science history.
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Unit 2 teaches about hardware where I have students play Hardware Bingo, that I created, and learn how to plug a computer in and then build their own computers.
In Unit 3 and Unit 4, we go over machine learning and AI. I have separated these two units to give students more of a bite-size way to digest this very important topic.
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In my lecture for Unit 3: Machine Learning, we play with the Google Teachable Machine and the students are then required to work on their own Google Teachable Machine and play around with Google Labs.
Unit 4: Artificial Intelligence this unit is part of the standards for the students to learn about the ethical considerations of AI. Students learned how prompting works with AI Avatars and they recorded "photographic essays" to debate on certain controversal topics related to AI.
Unit 5: Social Responsibility of Web Development is one of my favorite units as it add in the concepts of inequity and inclusion to the lesson about web development. In the slides, students learn what their identity is and how they fit inside the classroom, they learn about why advocating for themselves is not just good for their mental health, but also good for finding a job. The formation of this lesson evolved over time as I wanted to bring more inclusivity into my classroom. This is all wrapped under the slogan, The Art of You, where we talk about resumes, portfolios, and interviews. I make sure to interview each student to give them the experience doing something "scary" in a safe environment. They conclude the unit by making their own website about themselves and a portfolio website, much like this one, that showcases who they are and what they can offer.
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I created a lecture video for the lesson on EdPuzzle.
Unit 7: Roboics - This ties into the AI units well as it also dives into the ethical implications of robots. Students learn all about robots and how they affect us and the future of us and robots. Students then explore robots in different settings and they ultimately create their own golf course with a miniature Sphero as they glide along their miniature golf courses made of cardboard. The final assignment went as follows:
The Binary Unit is always a favorite with the students as I just have them play lot of games to learn decimal to binary and binary to decimal conversions over and over. I didn't make the binary game that the students are playing on the floor, but I found it here and it has been a hit.
I teach most of my classes about algorithms, so I vary it with each class so that it is not repeated. Because we are in a small school I am the only CS teacher and therefore, kids might take my classes over and over. For this unit of algorithms, I have two drones that I have the students create a flight path for. The first assignment is to create the flight path for the drones and the Level 3 assignment is to create the flight path for the RC Simulator.
