There are many free tools available that can allow any one, of any skill level to be introduced to programming. One in particular, Alice, developed at CMU provides an easy path too learning how to program. You will be shown how to incorporate Alice into the regular and or technology classroom

1. Advanced Programing on a
Shoestring
Mr. Keith Golebie and Mr. Matt Skoczylas
Ellwood City Area School District

2. Ellwood City Area School District
● Small Community in Western Pennsylvania
● 40 miles north of Pittsburgh
● North Side Primary School (K-2)
● Perry Lower Intermediate School (3-4)
● Hartman Intermediate School (5-6)
● Lincoln Jr./Sr. High School (7-12)

3. Mr. Keith Golebie
Computer Science Teacher 9 -12
(BCIT K-12)
Ellwood City Area School District
Many years in IT prior to public education
kgolebie@gmail.com

4. Mr. Matt Skoczylas
Elementary Computer Teacher
2nd- 6th Grade
Ellwood City Area School District
skoczylas.weebly.com

5. Programing on a
Shoestring

6. Objectives
● Anyone can teach/learn programming
● (Not just coding!)
● Programming can be implemented by
anyone, in any subject
● Learning - “Thinking” - Computational
Thinking, which is problem solving
● This can be done easily, and for free

7. Why Computer Science in PA
19,866 open computing jobs (growing at 3.9x the state average)
4,155 computer science graduates
191 schools teach computer science
● CS doesn't count as math or science credit
● No clear CS teacher certification pathways
● No CS curriculum standards

8. Why Computer Science in PA
“'Within the Next 20 Years, Half of All Jobs Will Be Taken
Over by Machines” - Frank Sonder on LinkedIn (Tuesday)

9. Why Computer Science in PA
“Computer Science projects are opportunities, not
assignments.” - Nikki, 10th grader (Student of the week -
this week)
● Learning opportunities
● Relevance
● Job gap, gender gap, underrepresented groups gap

10. Why Computer Science in PA
Break the Bias
“How Elementary School Teachers’ Biases Can
Discourage Girls From Math and Science”
- NY Times yesterday
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/07/upshot/how-elementary-school-teachers-biases-can-discourage-girls-from-math-and-
science.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1&abt=0002&abg=0

11. Why Computer Science in PA
The earlier, the better
● Before Bias is formed
● Free Tools - break the economic bias
● Anyone, any age
● Research shows, the earlier we learn programming, the
better - helps with other subjects. Rekode

12. Why Computer Science in PA
The earlier, the better
● Math - logic, problems solving
● Language - It’s a language!
● Reading for understanding
● We could go on….

13. Free Programs from Carnegie Mellon

14. Alice 2 or Alice 3
Alice 2 can be taught
for an introduction to
programming course.
Alice 3 can be taught in
advanced classes, or if
the class is moving into a
language by end of
course.

15. What is a program?
● Not “computer program”
● Why “Not a computer program?”

16. Why Alice?
● Alice evolved from a Virtual Reality device
● 50% dropout rates in CS 1 on the university
level
● Looking for ways to fix that
● CCAC and PTI
● Researched based – developed over time

17. Research Based
Here I am doing research for the Alice project

19. It’s a program, not a computer program
● What else can we program (phones, tablets,
refrigerators, microwaves, TV’s, cars,
airplanes, etc...

20. Programming
● A Set of Instructions
● Recipe
● Sequence

21. Programming
● Is it easier to build something when you
know what it is you want to build, or when
you don’t?
● This is what most kids miss - They want to
just make it without a plan.

22. Alice 2: Programming
Create a plan first!
● Comics Lab Humor
● Comic Lab Writing
● Comic Lab Ideas
● Panel Templates

23. Alice 2: Programming

24. Alice 3: Lets build something!

25. Resources for using Alice
● CMU
● Duke
● Oracle
● Listserve
● Youtube videos
● Summer courses at CMU

26. All programs are a solution to a problem
Reading for understanding
Problem solving (math)
Algorithm – (Science and math)

27. Standards
Programming is connected throughout all
standards
● PA Standards:
● BCIT Standards:
● Common Core (reading and writing)

28. Questions