MyCS�Summer Institute

Day #4 - June 9th, 2016

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

Welcome!

Please sit by people you don’t know well (yet). Switch up the seating arrangements!

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Enjoy some breakfast

and get to know your teammates.

We will start at 9 AM.

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CS is Changing Everything

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Icebreaker: Concentric Circles

Form two concentric circles (same number in each). Face one person in the other circle.

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Discuss a focus question with �each person. Then, rotate.

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View Scratch project.

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“Magic” Binary Cards

There is a great explanation for how this works in this Scratch project.

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Survey

Feedback

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Survey Feedback

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Survey Feedback

Worked Well:

• collaboration
• unplugged activities
• equitable teaching practices
• hackathon
• the food!
• icebreakers

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• “I enjoyed the discussion about how to promote equity in the classroom. I also enjoyed the unplugged activities. These will be very useful in teaching the conceptual understanding of computer science.”
• “The hackathon discussion was fun and engaging. HMC brings in so much energy.”
• “Having Prof Dodds show me how to use the pen function in Scratch.”
• “The sequence on functions and cups: Learning a concept, and then doing hands on activity that supports it, then going to coding.”

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Survey Feedback

To Adjust:

• more breaks

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Requests:

• how to manage grading
• new ideas for Finch robots
• for HMC: starter projects for games in 3-4 different genres
• easy ways to find all the curriculum and resources

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

Yesterday’s Reflection

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Goals for the Week

• Develop familiarity with the MyCS curriculum.
• Deepen knowledge and skills in:

Scratch / CS concepts / pedagogy

• Build a collaborative and supportive community.
• Maintain equity at the forefront of our work.
• Have fun! 😀

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Today’s Agenda

1. CS Pedagogy
2. Programming with Finch Robots

+ Best Practices

• Lunch + Games
• Hackathon!
• Hackathon Presentations
• Reflecting on Hackathon Process
• Hackathon: Sketching & Planning
• Close-Out

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conceptual focus:

sensors, input/output, abstraction, decomposition

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

Reviewing Our Norms

1. It’s okay to make mistakes
2. It’s okay to not always have the answers.
3. Be equity-minded
4. Be present
5. Accept and expect non-closure

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CS Pedagogy

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1. Ditch the Uniformity

Students learn at different rates. They also come into technology with vastly different skills. Trying to keep everyone on the same page will alienate both the bottom third and top third of learners. Take the pressure off of everyone by having a list of “approved” activities to focus on when they’ve finished their class exercise.

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Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

2) Frequent Breaks

Teachers are used to helping their class get very focused and encouraging students to work quietly until an activity is done. In computer science, students often benefit from small and frequent breaks, even if it’s just switching to a new activity for a few minutes. Try having a student write a sentence or two about what they’re trying to do, or keep a notebook, like a biologist or chemist might.

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Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

3) Collaborate

It’s really hard for a programmer to “cheat”. Collaboration is a requirement out in the real world. This means helping one another solve problems, researching issues on the Internet, and looking at what others have done in similar situations. The only bad method is claiming another’s work as your own.

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4) Don’t Be a Know-It-All

We often think that being a teacher means being an expert. In computer science, it’s really much more important to be a cheerleader. Let the students know that it’s possible for them to quickly become better at this than you are. Foster determination. Encourage students to monitor themselves, and find answers for one another. Let them figure things out for themselves, then let them teach you.

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Growth Mindset & Grit

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Debugging Strategies

Tips #1

Tips #2

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How do we help students develop grit to solve problems?

How do we help them develop stronger debugging skills?

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

You don’t have to know everything!

• Be a guide on the side, not sage on the stage
• Teach like a grandma (tease things out of Ss):
• what is the problem?
• what did you try?
• how did that work?
• what else can you try?
• Students may quickly learn more than you, and this is okay
• It’s okay to admit, I’m not sure; let’s figure it out together

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This will be frustrating at times.

• CS can be challenging, but doable.
• Goal = build persistence (lengthen the productive struggle over time).
• You don’t get the feeling of epic satisfaction without first feeling frustrated (FAIL = First Attempt In Learning).
• Don’t chunk the activities too much or make it too easy for Ss to get → hold the line and help build their grit.

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How Students Ask for Help

1) Try it yourself three times

2) Ask your elbow partner

3) Ask your table partners

4) Ask the teacher

5) Ask an expert (or someone else)� [teacher is not last line of defense]

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How Students Ask for Help

• Use pair programming!
• Seriously. Do it.
• This solves a lot of neediness issues!
• Use the 3 before me strategy.
• Use red (yellow) green cups/cards�for students to status and �indicate priority of question.

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Red/Green Cards

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Finch Robots

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Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

Finch Robots!

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Please contribute to our Padlet:

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Shoutkey.com/evil

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

Getting Started with the

Finch Robot

Version 1.0 - 9/8/14

Why Finch Robots?

What’s that?

Things to Remember

• The Finch Robot needs to be connected to the computer with the USB cable at all times.

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• The Finch Robot uses Scratch programming to complete tasks.

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Recommended: use Chrome

The Chrome browser supports an app that is attached to the user (Google account), rather than downloaded to the computer.

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Get it here: goo.gl/L5ySZV

To Open Scratch X on a Chromebook

Option 1:

Click the Apps Icon in the Browser Bar

Option 2:

Click the Search Icon in the lower lefthand corner.

Stan the Man...

Finch Functionality

Motor Commands

Move Finch left:__ right:__

Sets the power to the left and right wheels. The range is -100 to 100.

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For example Move Finch Left: 100 Right: 0 (100 is full forward),

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-100 Right: -100 is full backwards.

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LED Commands (Roy G Biv!)

Finch LED color R:__ G:__ B:__

Sets the color of the Finch's beak, the R, G, and B arguments control the intensity of the red, green, and blue elements in the Finch's beak. The range is 0 to 100 for each color.

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Sound Commands

Finch buzz at __Hz for __ms

Plays the Finch's buzzer with a sound of the frequency specified for the time specified. Range is 20 to 20,000 for frequency.

Note: 1,000 ms is equal to 1 second

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Sensing Commands - Part 1

Finch temperature

Returns the current temperature in Celsius.

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Finch left light and right light:

Returns the intensity of light hitting the left or right light sensor. The values are in a range from 0 to 100 where 0 is total darkness and 100 is saturation of the sensor.

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Finch left and right obstacle:

These are boolean or predicate blocks, returning true if an object is 1-4" from the sensor and false otherwise.

Sensing Commands - Part 2

Finch X/Y/Z Acceleration

Returns the current g-forces measured along the Finch's X (beak to tail), Y (wheel to wheel), and Z (top to bottom) axes.

Range is -1.5 to 1.5 gees.

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Finch Orientation

Returns the current orientation of the Finch.

Possible responses are: level, upside down, beak up, beak down, left wing down, right wing down, and in between.

Experienced Finch Users...

Which Finch Functions worked and which didn’t (or were memorably difficult?)

Finch Activity Resources

Recommended: use Chrome

The Chrome browser supports an app that is attached to the user (Google account), rather than downloaded to the computer.

Video Instructions

Get it here: goo.gl/L5ySZV

Shoutkey.com/coconut

Intro Finch Programming Activities

Activity 1:

• Emergency Stop
• “Next”
• “Speed” Variable

Activity 2:

• Movement

Activity 3:

• Explore the Beak Colors

Activity 4:

• Detect Light

Activity 5:

• Navigate the Maze

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Task #1 - Starting & Stopping

Find the Move Finch block and add in values of 100 for left and right. Click the block What happens?

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Add the Stop All block to stop your Finch from moving.

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Try experimenting with other numbers in the Move Finch block. Can you get the Finch to move left, right and backwards?

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CHALLENGE: Can you control the Finch Robot’s movement using the arrow keys?

Task #2 - Changing Beak Colors

Find the Finch LED Color block and add in values of 100 for R, G and B. Click the block. What happens?

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Try experimenting with other numbers in the Move Finch block. What colors do you get if you only put 100 in the R, G or B?

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What happens if you place a Pick Random (under operators) block in each of the three sections?

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CHALLENGE: Can you get the Finch to produce each of the colors of a rainbow?

Task #3 - Beep, Beep!

Find the Finch buzz block. What happens when you click it? What happens if you replace the 500ms with 1000ms?

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Try experimenting with other numbers in the Hz block. What do you notice when you have a lower number compared to a higher number?

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CHALLENGE: Can you get the Finch to play a song?

Hint: You’ll need to use multiple blocks and the Wait __ secs block between each Finch buzz.

Task #4 - Light Detection

Find the Finch left light and Finch right light blocks. What happens when you click them?

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Borrow a flashlight from your teacher and shine it on one of the light sensors on the Finch? How does the number change? What are the lowest and highest numbers you can produce?

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CHALLENGE: Can you get the Finch to move towards a light source?

Hint: You’ll need to use multiple Finch light blocks AND Move Finch blocks.

Task #5- what’s the temperature?

Add the Finch temperature block. When you click the block, a number will show up. Can you guess what is being displayed?

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The Finch temperature block will display the temperature in Celsius.

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CHALLENGE: Can you use a variety of the green operators blocks along with the Finch temperature block to display the temperature in Fahrenheit? If you get stuck, click on this slide to see how to do it!

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Task #6 - Orientation

Find the Finch Orientation block. What happens when you click it?

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The Finch Orientation block returns a description of the position that the finch is in. Can you get it to produce all seven positions?

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CHALLENGE: Can you figure out a way to use the Finch Orientation block to control the Scratch character on the screen?

Hint: Click on the slide for the blocks needed to move a character to the right.

Cool things you can do

• navigate a (timed) obstacle course, with some requirements (e.g., spin here, light up here)
• draw a specific shape (give cards with shapes to replicate with pen taped to tail of Finch)
• navigate a maze
• create a coordinated dance (think synchronized swimming or Finch mob)

Cool things you can do

• Sumo wrestling (push another Finch outside of the ring -- using sensors)
• Solar Power Source
• Neighborhood Simulation
• Finch Tug -of-War
• “Social Programming”- different phrases based on sensor data
• beep when it backs up

Cool things you can do

• Set up a Finch obstacle course
• requires creating controls for ramp-navigation, turns...ultimately race for time
• Finch Soccer!
• actions based on loudness (sensing in Scratch)
• use Finch as a controller
• activate animations (broadcast) when the Finch senses different things
• musical chairs

Tips and Tricks

• save often (it doesn’t autosave in ScratchX)
• make emergency stop (to prevent falls)
• any turn you do, you must undo before you can go in a different direction
• make the speed a variable (to change with the click of buttons)
• student roles: driver, navigator, cord-holder

Additional Resources

www.finchrobot.com

• using Chromebooks: http://www.finchrobot.com/chromebook-support
• using Scratch: http://www.finchrobot.com/software/scratch
• project and assignment resources with Scratch and Snap!: http://www.finchrobot.com/snap-and-scratch-20-finch-resources

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Finch and Scratch Explained

Scratch/Finch Project Examples

• To Alaska in One Minute: Finch senses temperature.
• Ruff Turf: Finch turns and barks when an obstacle gets too close,
• Which Way's Up: Finch controls a cat's movement on the Scratch stage.
• Trace It: Uses the Finch pen feature and captures Acceleration values in lists.
• Maze with Finch controller. Original student work.
• Arrow keys control the Finch robot on surface with option to attach a pen.

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Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

Load Finch Blocks into ScratchX

Once Scratch opens, open the File Menu. From there choose Load Project .

Load Finch Blocks into scratchx

Choose Finch.s2e from the Documents folder. You’ll now see the blocks to the right in the More Blocks category. These will blocks control the Finch Robot.

Activity Debrief

1. What did you like about this lesson?
2. How could we improve the lesson �for use in your classroom?
3. What made a strong creative project?

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Scavenger Hunt!

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Scavenger Hunt!

1. Form small teams.
2. Solve a station’s puzzle to earn clues.
3. When you have all four clues, try to debug the Scratch program so that it writes a coherent message.

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Hackathon!

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Hackathon Process

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Plan

Develop

Pitch

Brainstorm

Showcase

Respond to Feedback

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

Reflecting on the Hackathon Process

Gallery walk:

• Grouping students
• Shaping project ideas (and getting feedback)
• Revisions to the project guide
• Rubric & how to grade
• Showcase ideas

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Close-Out

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Reflection

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Complete Feedback Survey

Your feedback is critical!

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Please complete the feedback survey.

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When you’re finished, visit the parking lot, backchannel, and Google+ community.

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Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

It’s time for a

RAFFLE!

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Text your name to

415-890-4522

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

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Additional Materials

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Kids React to Old Computers

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Debrief: Dice Race Game

• What did you like about this lesson?
• What directions were unclear or missing?
• How could we improve the lesson �for use in your classroom?

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Relay Programming

1. Small teams will line up on one side. The other side has graph paper drawing that your team must program, one direction at a time.
2. Like a relay race, the first in line will run to the other side and write ONE direction to “program” the graph drawing.
3. The next person DEBUGS or writes the NEXT direction for the program.
4. Repeat step #3 until the program is complete.

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Debrief

• What did you like about this lesson?
• How could we improve the lesson �for use in your classroom?

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Icebreaker: Two Truths and a Lie

Each person will introduce him/herself by stating two truths about his/her life and one lie.

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Make it interesting! And, switch up the order.

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The rest of the participants will guess which statement is the lie.

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CS is Really About Thinking

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Reflection

What is an activity or strategy from today that want to be sure to implement in your classroom?

How would you an adjust an activity from today when implementing in your classroom?

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Icebreaker: Binary Activity

Each person will have one card with a number �in binary. Arrange yourselves in sequence. ��Tell a corny joke to the people next to you.

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“Magic” Binary Cards

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http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/numbers/binary/cards.htm

Expanding Computer Science Education to ALL Students

http://csunplugged.org/binary-numbers/