Computer Science Teaching Academy
June 23 - June 27, 2014 at James Madison University

Pre-Workshop Homework

Part 1: Slide about You

As with most workshops, we'll begin by going around the room and letting people introduce themselves. But to make things more fun and interesting, please send me a slide about yourself. Click on the image to the right for an example. You may be as creative or boring as you like. The only requirements are:
  1. Write your name, school, city, state.
  2. List which classes you are teaching.
  3. Include a recent picture of yourself.
  4. The orientation should be landscape.
  5. The file must be a single-page pdf.

Due: Monday, June 16th at 8:00 AM. Send pdf attachment to mayfiecs@jmu.edu.

Part 2: Read the Book

It's time to break the ice on our Google Group! To prepare for the workshop, please read Chapter 0 of the textbook. Pay close attention to the "Seven Big Ideas of Computer Science" described in Section 0.4. When finished, post a brief response to the entire class. Feel free to start a new thread and/or reply to each other's posts. You might consider one or more of the following questions:
  1. What surprises, puzzles, challenges, or excites you about CS?
  2. How can we teach the "overarching themes" of CS effectively?
  3. Which ideas presented apply (or not) to teaching in high school?
  4. What techniques are useful for teaching social and ethical issues?

Due: Monday, June 23rd at 8:00 AM. Send email to jmu-cs-academy@googlegroups.com.

Part 3: Show and Tell

This last part is for those enrolled for graduate credit and anyone else who would like to participate.

The goal of the Mon/Wed evening sessions is to jump start the follow-up projects described in the syllabus. Although I am listed as the presenter, you and your colleagues will do most of the presenting. On Monday we will do "show and tell" as a group. Please bring an interactive, non-programming CS activity you used recently and that worked well with your students. If you are new to teaching CS, you may bring something related to technology in general. If you have props you like to teach with (e.g., Mr. Potato Head) bring them along to demonstrate. On Wednesday we will have an evening of Arduino and Finch programming. If you teach with these devices, be prepared to share ideas and lesson materials.