Thriving in our Digital World

Innovating computer science education at the high school level through technology-

enhanced PBL

George Veletsianos, PhDGregory Russell

Learning Technologies

Calvin Lin, PhDBradley Beth

Computer Science

Summary

The state of Computer Science in High School

CS Principles

Dual enrollment

(CS for non-majors)

PBL

Goals

Diversity

Course overview

Krajcik and Blumenfeld (2006)

• learners are presented with a driving question or challenge,

• develop a tangible end-product to address the question/challenge,

• engage in authentic activities,

• collaborate with others & work in groups,

• use technology to engage in otherwise impossible activities.

• teacher scaffolds

Problem-based learning model

Course Design

Module example: Computers

Technology scaffolds

Common scaffolds

learning managementsystem

collaborative tools

administrative tools

content management

Contentpages

External resources

e.g. Gimpe.g. Audacity

open-sourcetools

e.g. binary finger countinge.g. audio sampling

contentspecificapplets

Custom-built scaffolds

Online narrative: Conspiracy Theory

e.g. Where’s Waldo computing?

Computers are no longer relegated to the desktop. They are ubiquitous (everywhere). The image above is a random snapshot taken by photographer Donald Peterson of a busy New York City street. Can you locate 6 instances of computing in the image above?

e.g. CS Calendar

3-year project

Year 1: Design & Development (D&D)

Year 2: D&D, implementation, evaluation, redesign

Year 3: Evaluation

Ongoing research and development

Questions & comments:

veletsianos @ utexas.edu

grussell @ utexas.edu

Course and materials are openly available at:

http://tinyurl.com/engagewithcs

Thank you