Computer Science for the Young Mind

By: Paul ImComputer Systems 08-09

Period 3

Abstract

Limited efforts to educate younger students

Goal: to implement computer programming to educate elementary and/or middle school students in math and science.

Figure 1: Java logowww.lucidsys.net/lucid_services.html

Introduction

Every day, technology becomes more advanced and accessible

Little progress made at elementary school level

Scope: effective usage of teaching methods and basic programming

Choice for programming language: Scratch

Final project: improved curriculum Expected results: students learn computer

programming

Background

Computer programming-uses conventional languages for high school

Scratch-kid friendly programming language

Figure 2: Unofficial Scratch Profile Imagehttp://fertanish.blogspot.com/2007/05/scratch.html

Background cont’d

Programs like this done before 2007: Gregory Gates

at Cardinal Forest Elementary

Computer clubhouse at MIT

Figure 3: Cardinal Forest Elementary School computer lab

Development

Auxiliary research Class design Indirect teaching

• Effectiveness and efficiency

Projects Rectangle challenge Ice Skating Rink

Procedures

Curriculum-expanding on predecessor’s ideas Improvements

required

Videos with Scratch

– Created and used as teaching aids

Figure 4: Scratch students at Cardinal Forest Elementaryhttp://www.fcps.edu/CardinalForestES/pages/Scratch/Scratch%20Gallery/html/0.htm

Procedures cont’d

• Considered teleconferencing

– Eventually abandoned

– Later reconsidered

Figure 5: Random Promotional Picture

Timeline

October: begin

curriculum

June: end of course

Novem

ber: used S

cratch to create program

s

May: final projects

Decem

ber: helped with

development of K

itty R

ectangle project

January: helped with

development of Ice

Skating R

ink project

February: helped w

ith G

ame D

econstruction project, started video conferencing plans

March: helped w

ith G

ame D

econstruction project

Problems

Incompatibility Latest Scratch for Linux: 1.2

Required: 1.3

Few formal sources for Scratch

Transportation No car

Timing Different period

Sample Algorithms

Figure 6: Prototype Tutorial Program

Sample Algorithms cont’d.

Figure 7: Screenshot of Winter Wonderland Tutorial Program

Discussion

• Progress in learning

– Subjective

• Aspirations for program’s future

– Last for years

– Expansion

Figure 8: Promotional Image for Second Project

Results

• Students continue to learn

– Different paces observed

• Project so far successful

– Still too early to say definitively

Conclusion

• Computer as medium

– Teaching

• Students

– The sooner, the better

• How young is too young?

– Maybe never