With increasing interest in computer science before high school these days you may have noticed that I have a number of K-8 teachers in this series. Several of them use Bootstrap in middle school. Bootstrap is a great combination of math and computer science. As such it fits easily into middle school programs.Adam Newall is the latest interview with one of these teachers.
BTW did you miss my interview with Emmanuel Schanzer who created Bootstrap?
WHERE DO YOU TEACH? WHAT SORT OF SCHOOL IS IT?
I teach at Pembroke Community Middle School. A public school for grades 7 and 8.
WHAT COURSES DO YOU TEACH?
I teach a math applications class and Bootstrap: Algebra as an elective.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED TEACHING BOOTSTRAP?
My district was looking to add electives to our schedule as well as curricula that would would help our students master algebra. Bootstrap fit that need perfectly and I've been proudly teaching it for the past six years.
HOW IS BOOTSTRAP WORKING FOR YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS? DO YOU THINK IT GETS STUDENTS MORE INTERESTED IN PURSUING MORE COMPUTER SCIENCE?
My students have felt very successful using Bootstrap and are proud of the accomplishments they have made in math and computer science as a result of their coursework. It's been incredibly empowering for all students who are interested in computer science to gain a foothold at such a young age that can propel them further into the field.
DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A MATH TEACHER, A COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHER, OR DO YOU DEFY SIMPLE CATEGORIES? HOW DOES YOUR SCHOOL SEE YOU?
I think I would defy simple categories. I teach math, but not as I was taught it. A few colleagues and I have built a curriculum for our course, math applications, which every student in both 7th and 8th grade takes, that requires the students to think critically and problem solve, applying math skills they have already learned in their traditional math courses. I teach computer science, but I'm not a computer scientist. I am a lifelong learner in every sense and am always adjusting my practice. I think my school sees me as a teacher who is willing to take risks and question everything for the sake of making it better.
WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL TEACHING PHILOSOPHY? PROJECT BASED LEARNING? FLIPPED CLASSROOM? IN SHORT, WHAT MAKES YOUR PROGRAM “YOUR PROGRAM?”
I believe in the "upside-down" teaching model that empowers students to be part of the learning process. I frequently use project based learning to present students with scenarios that are authentic to real life in order to help them "own" on a deeper level the math skills that they already know. Bootstrap fits my teacher personality as it gives students the opportunity to ask the questions, to rely on their knowledge, to help each other, and to feel invested in their success.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN TEACHING AT YOUR SCHOOL?
I think that the biggest challenge in teaching at my school is our level of technology saturation. I would love to see students in a one-to-one model some day where they each have constant access to a school-authorized device.
WHAT IS ADMINISTRATION’S SUPPORT (OR LACK OF SUPPORT) LIKE AT YOUR SCHOOL?
My administration is incredibly supportive of teachers and the directions that we see for our classes. Teaching Bootstrap at my school is one example of my administration's support--allowing me to pursue my interests and take on a brand new subject area for our entire district.
HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS FOR YOUR PROGRAM? FOR YOUR STUDENTS?
I measure the success of my students first on their excitement and their confidence in using math and in computer programming. I then measure their success by the numbers from pre and post test data that shows they are able to apply their math knowledge from Bootstrap back into the math classroom. Our program has been successful as we were able to offer the first computer science curriculum in our district which has grown into the Bootstrap: Algebra and Reactive curriculums in the middle school as well as a new computer science teacher at the high school who teaches to the AP CS test. It's been awesome.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT REGARDING YOUR PROGRAM THAT I HAVE NOT ALREADY ASKED?
I've never felt more important than the days I'm teaching Bootstrap. I can see students who have one "aha" moment after another because they made a dog move across their screen or their player jump up and down. Some students have blossomed as learners, finally feeling like they've found their niche and really beginning to engage in their own learning. Other students have grown in their persistence; they run buggy code and then go on to track it down time after time until it's perfect, no matter how long it takes. That is a model in perseverance that will follow them throughout their education and change how they view the world. They are learning to be superheroes and I get to know I put them on that path.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE (IF ANY)
· School name and web site: http://pcms.pembrokek12.org/pages/PembrokeCommunityMS
· Twitter: @mr_newall
Note: The index for this interview series is at http://blog.acthompson.net/2017/10/computer-science-educator-interview.html and is updated as new interviews are posted.
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