Windows 8.1 came out last week. I’ve updated one of my computers so far. Seems to go well so far. I’ll probably update the rest of my computers during the week. My school computers are still Windows 7 though. Hopefully that will change eventually. Anyway, I have a few good links to share.
Rebecca Dovi provides a CSTA Chapter Toolkit – a bunch of tools that are helpful for running a CSTA Chapter.
Are you interested in historical data about participation in the CS AP exam in your state? Check out this set of CS AP A exam data from 1998 to 2013 updated by Barb Ericson of Georgia Tech
Don Wettrick @DonWettrick has started a new INternet radio podcast called InnovatED. His initial guest is Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher.
Did you know that you can apply now for the NCWIT Student Seed Fund, a $1k award for student-run programs promoting women in computing & IT?
Can you name the most popular programming languages? I got about about half of them. Just went blank on the rest.
Keith Ferrell @k_ferrell gives 5 Reasons to Teach Kids to Code
Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher talks to Lou Zulli @lzulli on @bamradionetwork Computer Programming for All Students
2 comments:
Re "5 Reasons to Teach Kids to Code," I really like this graphic, and I'm encouraged by the work of Code.org and the "hour of code" initiative etc. But...I think it's a mistake that we're emphasizing the term "coding" for all these efforts, rather than "creating," "app building," "developing," "designing," etc.
Quite possibly I'm making too big an issue of this, but "code" is, *by definition*, a non-inclusive term, having the connotation of "there's a meaning buried in here, to which only a select few are privy, and it's designed so the rest of you won't be able to figure it out unless we choose to share it with you." Isn't that what a "code" is?!
I believe if we're really trying to open the doors of computer science and invite folks into the field who haven't had opportunities (or haven't *felt* like they've had opportunites) in the past, I think our communications and "branding" efforts are really important! And despite how well-intentioned these efforts may be, I don't think "coding" is the right brand to say "we want to bring CS to *all* K-12 students!"
Sorry for the mini-rant. :-) Please respond if others think I'm off base with this!
You're not the first to call code.org out on the apparent focus on "code." To some extent I agree. I think its all marketing talk which is both good (getting attention) and bad (making it look like code is the important thing). It's the kind of thing that is going to happen when non educators get involved.
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