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Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information from Alfred Thompson

Alfred Thompson's blog about teaching computer science at the K-12 level. Alfred was a high school computer science teacher for 8 years. He has also taught grades K-8 as a computer specialist. He has written several textbooks and project books for teaching Visual Basic in high school and middle school. Alfred is the K-12 Computer Science Academic Relations Manager for Microsoft and is trying to be the Microsoft Education Blogger.

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Why CS Teachers should blog (and a suggestion for teaching sorting)

I read about a very useful class exercise in Dave Jacobus' blog yesterday. In it he talks about some fun and educational live action simulations that he used in his class to teach sorting. Read his blog for the full story but the short version is that he sorted the students in his class using different sort algorithms. He could actually see the students "getting it." What a wonderful experience for a teacher to see something work and know that are students gaining understanding.

I wish more teachers would blog about the things they try that work. We need to have more sharing of best practices. Every teacher needs to constantly learn new things so that they can reach different students. Only by sharing the good ideas can we really make this happen. Blogs are one really good way to do this.

I've got blog links to a couple of really good and innovative teachers in the blog lists of this web site. Take a look. And if you have or know of a blog that should be listed please let me know. Thanks!

Published Saturday, March 11, 2006 12:03 AM by Alfred Thompson

Comments

# re: Why CS Teachers should blog (and a suggestion for teaching sorting) @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 1:51 AM

I've never formally taught people how to code, but I did help a number of my fellow students when I was in college.  I found that using a deck of cards to teach sorting algorithms to be very useful.

Rick Schaut

# re: Why CS Teachers should blog (and a suggestion for teaching sorting) @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 8:33 AM

I used to teach a class on OO design.  I would go to a conference and get all the squishy ball giveaways and cart a big bag of them to class.  I would start pulling them out of the bag and toss them to (actually at) the students and have them describe attributes of the squishy ball (color, size, distinguishing characteristics).  We'd then create classes Color, Size, Weight, and an interface ISquishyThing.  Some were spheres, others were shapes (computers, fruit, people).

The students loved the interaction, trying to figure out how to capture all of the details about the ISquishyThing to adequately describe them.  We were able to build on this lesson several times over throughout the course.

And it is kind of fun watching someone trying to catch a squishy ball being hurled at them when they are not expecting it.

kaevans

# re: Why CS Teachers should blog (and a suggestion for teaching sorting) @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 5:50 PM

I agree 100% that the best practices need to be shared in real time through blogs.  This week I taught Excel using the strategy of playing a game of war which I discovered from a teacher in texas and participated in wikiville which originated in England.  Blogging has made me a better teacher as I document the things I do and setup.  Reading blogs has made me a better person!

I read today that a teacher isn't filling a bucket, a teacher starts a fire!

Great post!

Coolcatteacher

# re: Why CS Teachers should blog (and a suggestion for teaching sorting) @ Sunday, March 12, 2006 12:49 AM

Some great ideas here. Keep them coming!

Alfred Thompson

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