Communications of the ACM
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How the “Frontier” Became the Slogan of Uncontrolled AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been billed as the next frontier of humanity: the newly available expanse whose exploration …
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
Artificial Intelligence, Humor, and Appreciation of Beauty
Last night I started re-reading Heinlein’s The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress. It’s an old book, written in the mid 1960s, so there are some old ideas about computers...
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
MicroBlocks For IoT and other Physical Computing
Well, there is a new tool in town for programming micro devices like the Micro:bit and the AdaFruit Circuit Playground Express and many more! It's called MicroBlocks...
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
What I miss and don’t miss about teaching
Fall has come and while students are back in school I am not. I’ve been reflecting a bit about that. I don’t miss getting up at 6 AM and driving for close to an...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson