This is my contribution to the Social Nets in Education Workshop at Duke University July 8-9, 2010 - http://harambeenet.org/workshop/

1. Social Nets in Education
@ U. Michigan
Dr. Charles Severance
University of Michigan School of Information
www.dr-chuck.com
Social Nets in Education Workshop - July 8, 2010

2. • My previous job: Sakai Chief Architect and Exec Director
• My research topics: Software For Teaching and Learning,
Web Lecture technologies, and High Performance
Computing.
• I also work in developing standards for learning software
interoperability
• Hobbies: Hockey, Off-Road Motorcycle Riding

3. www.si.umich.edu

4. informatics.umich.edu

5. Class of 2010
6 Women / 4 Men
6 Employed / 3 Graduate School

6. Python Courses
• SI301 - Social Computing / SI124 - Networked Thinking
• SI/EECS 182 - Introduction to Information Environments
• SI502 - Networked Computing
• SI539 - Design of Complex Web Sites (AppEngine)
www.pythonlearn.com

7. SI301 - Social Computing (SI124)
• Wisdom of Crowds - James Surowecki
• Networks,
Crowds, and
Markets by
David
Easley / Jon Kleinberg
• Chapters 1-18 - Avoiding all "Advanced"
material
• Student's choose additional book for group
project / presentation

8. SI301 - Projects...
Crowdsourcing
The Tipping Point
Influence: Science and Practice
Wikinomics
The Cathedral & the Bazaar
Viral Loop
Long Tail
...

9. SI182 - Building Applications
• Textbook: Think Python by Allen B. Downey
• Optional Text: Using Google App Engine -
Severance
• Completely cover programming in first 9
weeks
• Special topics and projects - Twitter API /
Google App Engine / HTML etc
Taught by EECS and SI alternate semesters

10. I don’t like programming.
I am not so good at math.
We don’t assume that
just because you are in
SI 182 a computer class -
that you intend to
pursue a computer
career.
Tech?
CS Degree Other Degree

11. EECS/SI182 - EECS Curriculumn
• Allows EECS to expreiment with a new programming
sequence
• Current: C - C++
• Informatics: Python - Java - C++
• The question is a combination of how many courses
toteach and how not to "lose" students in the process

12. SI502 - Networked Computing
• No pre-requisites • HTML and CSS
• Python for Informatics - focus on • Servie Oriented Architecture and
data analysis REST Web Services
• Internet History • Structured Query Language
(SQL)
• Internet Architecture
• Search Technology
• Hypertext Transport Protocol
(HTTP) • Security Issues and Technology

14. Python Textbook
• Python for Informatics: Exploring Information
• Author: Charles Severance
• Thanks to Allen B. Downey and Jeff Elkner
• http://www.py4inf.com/
• Free as a PDF
• Available the the Espresso (Shapiro Library) $10

15. SI539 - Google App Engine
• Aimed at beginner - includes Python,
HTML, CSS, and AppEngine
• Focus is on building a interactive, lively,
and creative personal portfolio hosted
for free on Google's infrastructure
www.appenginelearn.com

16. Gender/Technology Issues
• MSI is 65% female - B.A. Informatics is 50% female - Design Goals
• Don't teach past the breaking point - focus on core/useful skills
• Multiple learning paths / styles - lecture / recording / discussion / lab
• All examples and problems must be relevant - when in doubt use
data-driven examples about people - never number games
• SI502 W10 Averages - Female (n=63) = 95.5 Male (n=24)

17. I was always a humanities-type. Until I took SI502, I never knew
home much I loved to code. I am thinking about becoming a
digital archivist.
I am currently taking SI502 and am shocked to find that I
actually like it and want to do more. I see that you are not on
the faculty adviser list for the Fall but I was wondering if I could
meet with you to discuss future courses.
Thanks so much for everything in 539. I learned SO much! I honestly was
absolutely petrified of programming before 502 and liked it so much I felt
confident going into 539. And look what I can do now! (abby-
bedford.appspot.com) Thanks for making programming not scary!

18. Thank You
• informatics.umich.edu All of my lecture slides for
the courses I teach are
• www.si.umich.edu available as CC-BY. Please
contact me at
• www.si502.com csev@umich.edu
• www.py4inf.com
• www.dr-chuck.com