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dateMore Than a Year Ago
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Why Computer Science Teachers Should Read Books
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Why Computer Science Teachers Should Read Books

Since I retired I have been reading more computer science related books. You may have read my book reviews on Humble Pi, Weapons of Math Destruction, or Computer...

How Are You Doing?
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

How Are You Doing?

We’ve now finished the first week after Labor Day and at least in North America almost everyone is back to school. That may not mean physically back in a bricks...

The End of School Computer Labs?
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

The End of School Computer Labs?

There has been a lot of talk in recent years about doing away with computer labs in schools. BYOD and one to one computers have been talked about and have been...

Book Review: Humble Pi
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Book Review: Humble Pi

Recently, I asked my Facebook friends for recommendations for non-fiction books that would not get me depressed. Several people recommended Humble Pi: When Math...

Are You Ready to Help with CSTA 2021
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Are You Ready to Help with CSTA 2021

The call for participation in CSTA 2021 is now out. You can learn about the submission process and look at some possible topic areas on the conference information...

Learning Python Part 2: Distracted by a Turtle
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Learning Python Part 2: Distracted by a Turtle

I cracked a book and found out that Python supports turtle graphics. I love drawing pictures with graphics. I have since I was in university. So today I played...

Programming Projects for Learning or Grading
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Programming Projects for Learning or Grading

The purpose of school work is to get good grades. Well, at least that seems to be a common view on the part of students. Most teachers will tell you that the motivation...

Learning Python: Part 1
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Learning Python: Part 1

Python has been on my radar for years but I haven’t really had the motivation to learn it myself. It’s time though for several reasons. Reason number one is that...

Changing How We Teach Computer Science
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Changing How We Teach Computer Science

I haven't been blogging much lately. I'm adjusting to being retired for the most part but I have been reading and thinking a lot about teaching computer science...

Book Review: Weapons of Math Destruction
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Book Review: Weapons of Math Destruction

Weapons of Math Destruction has been out for a couple of years now and it is one of those books that a lot of people reference. I finally got around to reading...

Thoughts on Virtual Conferences - CSTA 2020
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Thoughts on Virtual Conferences - CSTA 2020

The first online CSTA Conference is now about 24 hours behind me. I was fortunate to experience it both as an attendee and a presenter. After mulling it over aThe...

CSTA Online Conference 2020–Day Two
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

CSTA Online Conference 2020–Day Two

The first thing I did this morning was to prepare for my presentation. I may have made some last minute changes to my presentation deck. The first thing I attended...

CSTA 2020 Conference Online–Day One
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

CSTA 2020 Conference Online–Day One

Day one of the online CSTA 2020 conference has been today. I’m blogging this as the day goes on and posting it at the end of the day. We started with welcome remarks...

Book Review: Computer Science in K-12
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Book Review: Computer Science in K-12

Full disclosure: I haven’t read all of “Computer Science for K-12” edited and compiled by Shuchi Grover yet but a couple of chapters was enough to convince me I...

How Do We Know Who Is Struggling In Learning CS
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

How Do We Know Who Is Struggling In Learning CS

One of the interesting points Amy Ko makes in her presentation to Microsoft (CS education in higher education) is that “Most faculty have little insight into who...

Thoughts on an IDE for Teaching CS
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Thoughts on an IDE for Teaching CS

Amy Ko posted a slide deck about CS education in higher education from a presentation she made to a group at Microsoft. There is a ton of stuff in there. I need...

Setting Up To Teach From Home
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Setting Up To Teach From Home

This past spring semester was my first time teaching remotely but not my first time working remotely. I worked from home while working in industry for jsut over...

ACM Digital Library is Open for Free
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

ACM Digital Library is Open for Free

Like most K-12 teachers, a membership in a professional society like ACM or IEEE is not funded by my school. So I pay out of pocket for an ACM membership and have...

What About the Students Who Thrive Learning Online
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

What About the Students Who Thrive Learning Online

In my end of course evaluations I asked my students if they learned better online or in the classroom. Not surprisingly, most of them said they learned better in...

Am I Retired Now?
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson

Am I Retired Now?

My last class of the school year just ended. My grades and report card comments are in the system. I am not going back to school in the fall. Am I retired now?...
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