EXEMPLAR
COMPUTER SCIENCE
MOODLE COURSES
SCAFFOLDING PEDAGOGY
Gerry Donaldson, University of Calgary
Information
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Scope
Sequence
Assessment
Labs
 Quizzes
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Practice
Resources
Gestalt
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Resources
Textbook
 Slideshows
 Model Solutions
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 Model
Source Code
 Video Explanations
Dev’t Environment
 Labs
 Quizzes
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Textbook = Real Pathway
Teachers need infrastructure to integrate scope, sequence and resources.
Teachers do not have the time to author full time and teach full time.
Authors: Paul & Harvey Deitel
Harvey Deitel
The Father
Paul Deitel
The Son
Bring Your Tools To The Work Site!
 Textbook
 Computer
Development
Environment
Browser
Internet
Teacher
Interface – Single Level Menus Only
Unseen items hide information. Put AMAP within the field of vision!
Grade 10 Courses Motivate!
Grade Ten Courses Inspire Future Affection!
Grade 10 is Usually The Student’s First Exposure.
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Alice 3D Graphics – Visual Conceptualization
Students cover concepts faster than in C++ or Java!
 Problems are defined as Objects from Day 1.
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Lego Mindstorms Robotics – Kinesthetic Thought
Physical movement uses a different part of the brain.
 Concepts may be retained longer & more intimately.
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Sampler Pathway Is Experimental !
Half A Course Per Grade Suffices!
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Grade 10 Is Common To All Pathways
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Grades 10 Content Has Many Options
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Do Java With Academic Pathways!
MIPS Assembly Language (Million Instructions Per Second)
Alice For 9 Credits – Arrays & Lists + Major Project
(((Racket))) – formerly Dr. Scheme
Algorithms – Contest Preparation & Competition
Android & iPhone Programming
American Computer Science League (Broad Curriculum)
Robotics Beyond Mindstorms
Academic Pathways Based On Practice!
Academic Pathways Start In Grade Eleven!
(AP and IB Computer Science are 2 Year Programs.)
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University Pathway ( 4 x 3 Credits – Grade 11 )
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Advanced Placement ( Starts Grade 11 )
AP Computer Science A ( 3 x 3 Credits)
 AP Computer Science AB ( 4 x 3 Credits)
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International Baccalaureate ( Starts Grade 11 )
IB Standard Level ( 3 x 3 Credits )
 IB Advanced Level ( 6 x 3 Credits )
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Java Is Established Teaching Language!
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Established Curricula Examines Java
Advanced Placement (North America)
 International Baccalaureate (World)
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Most Instructional Resources
Hundreds of Textbooks
 Mature Development Environments
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Most Pervasive Instructional Culture
Deitel Texts Have Greater Scope!
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Record of Continuous Adjustment
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Java Text Is 8th Edition (Pascal, C++, BASIC, JavaScript)
Extensive Variety of Instructional Media
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Text – Colours, Highlights, Icons, Diagrams, Tables.
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Long PowerPoint Slideshows (Maybe too long.)
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Full Program Source Code, Colour Coded Examples.
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Video Explanation of All Example Code.
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Extensive Types of Problem Sets & Labs.
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Extensive Question Banks for Quizzes.
Unusually Rich Variation of Instructional Modalities
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Traditional textual and Sample Programming Code
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Integrates UML (Unified Modelling Language) Throughout
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Significant GUI (Graphical User Interface) Coverage
KISS Principle: Keep It Simple Student!
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Different column for
different resource type.
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Course & Pathway
Theory: Read & Slideshow
Videos of Presentations
Eclipse (IDE) Instruction
Assignments
Lab pdfs & Source Code
Example Source Code Text &
Video Explanations
Avoid Menus == Iconic Signals
Blackboard = Instructions explaining what & how to do ….
PowerPoint Slide Show = Traditional Presentation
Adobe pdf file = Tradition “Handout” In A Printable Format.
Screencast Video = Explanation of Associated Source Code.
Supplementary Resources:
Bradley Kjell’s Web Tutorials
Supplementary Resources:
Ruth Hartsook’s Flash Tutorials
Supplementary Resources:
Mark Dexter’s Screencast Tutorials
Supplementary Resources:
Cisco’s Binary Game
Scope Is Learned From Experience!
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Scope Covered As A Function of Pace Maintained.
Speed First, Accuracy Second! (Keyboarding Rule.)
Learning Adapts To World. World Doesn’t Wait!
Learning Is A Social Experience = Do It Together!
Pace should be consistent. Volatility is really bad.
“Good Luck” is preparation meeting opportunity.
Routine frees energies for more creative activities.
Start with end in mind. == Know where you’re going.
Test often – Testing Is Strongest Motivator of Study.
Feedback must be immediate to be useful.
Pace = Chapter Every 2 Weeks!
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1st Half Course Can Touch On Arrays But
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2nd Half Course Does Arrays & OOP & Exceptions.
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GUI Interface Reinforces OOP Significantly.
3rd Half Course Emphasizes Algorithms w/ Arrays.
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Not Enough Time To Get Comfortable With Arrays.
Searching, Sorting, Recursion, String Handling.
4th Half Course Creates Objects Using Structures
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Algorithms With Linked Lists & Binary Search Trees.
Typical Sequences of Instruction.
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Slideshow Draws Focus To Instruction.
Textbook Open During Presentation: Source Code.
Execute All Source Code In IDE As You Go!
Break from presentation for “mini lesson” as needed.
Assign labs – emphasize problem solving for homework.
>> Grade for logic & method  Function follows form.
>> Correct result is worth 0%  May be wrong solution.
>> Marking rubric should reward techniques, not results.
>> Mark with students  Timely & thorough Feedback!
Quiz every chapter == correct & review in same class!
Pass only! Failure is not an option. Students only succeed.
Use Graphics tablet.  Jot notes & diagrams on slides!
Integrate Resources In Presentation.
Graphics tablets work well with presentation projections.
 Powerpoint Slide show – Jot notes & diagrams on slide.
 Flip easily between apps (IDE, slideshow, Paint, Screencast, Course Links)
 No downtime runing to smartboard or overhead projector.
Tools Introduce & Practice Concepts
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Use the most powerful IDE you can find.
Three Worthy Candidate Development Environments.
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Eclipse – Open Source From Eclipse.org.
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Netbeans – Open Source from Sun MicroSystems.
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IntelliJ IDEA – Classroom License For Educators.
This course uses Eclipse because of excellent known
and available instructional resources.
Reading & Background Need Work.
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Three problems exist with virtually all current
worthy academic Computer Science textbooks:
The reading language uses the jargon of Computer
Science. (Duh!)
Thought processes are … well … “academic-logic.”
Problem-solutions assume a high school background
in mathematics and other substantive areas.
Solution: Teach jargon & high school level
math, physics, accounting, politics, et cetera!
Courses Enriched Through Forums.
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Teachers will be invited to use the posted courses.
Courses can be distributed by flash drives and
through zipped, downloaded packages.
Courses can be duplicated on ComSciHigh. Each
teacher may be given their own subdomain.
Forums will be used to comment on what works and
doesn’t work.
Forums will be used to share further resources and
recommend alternative learning strategies.
Elaboration Delivered by Blogs.
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In depth treatments of pedagogical and other
topics will be delivered through blogging.
Example:
Gerry’s ComSci Blog:
http://www.comscihigh.com/wp/
Web Site To Support Courses
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A web site will further support teaching and
learning of K-12 Computer Science.
Web Site Began In Early June 2010:
http://www.comscihigh.com/
ComSciHigh – Supporting Com Sci
Quick Links
Events Calendar
Featured Links
Near Future Plans
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Normalize means of Distribution
Add Deitel quizzes to courses.
Generate sample rubrics on grading assignments.
Generate Exemplar Teaching Lesson.
Generate Exemplar Contest Templates.
Possible Future Plans
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Grade 12 Exemplar Courses.
Advanced Placement Rendition of CTS Curriculum.
International Baccalaureate Rendition of CTS Curr.
Install operational software for “auto-judging”
computing problems as used by computing contests.
Establishing a “standards committee” composed of
teachers and content experts from industry and
academia.
Establish an enduring professional development
organization for K-12 Computer Science teachers.
Sponsored and Owned By:
Central Alberta Regional Consortium
Ensures that all Alberta teachers
have access to and may contribute
to the web site and resources.