Exploring+Computer+Science

=//**Exploring Computer Science**//= //Joanna Goode, University of Oregon and Gail Chapman, University of California//


 * Human Computer Interaction**
 * || **Date** || **Topic** ||
 * 1. ||  || History of Computers. Explore the concepts of computer and computing. ||
 * 2. ||  || Computer Hardware. Learn the function of the parts of a personal computer. Learn the terminology of hardware components necessary for the purchase of a home computer. ||
 * 3. ||  || Explore the World Wide Web and Search Engines. Experiment with a variety of search techniques, internet resources, and Web 2.0, applications. Evaluate websites. ||
 * 4. ||  || Computers and Communication. Examine the implications of data on society and how computers are used for communications. ||
 * 5. ||  || Tell a story with data. ||
 * 6. ||  || Explore how computers are used as a tool for visualizing data, modeling and design, and art in the context of culturally situated design tools. ||
 * 7. ||  || Computers and intelligence. Explore the idea of intelligence—especially as it relates to computers. Explore what it means for a machine to “learn”. Discuss whether computers are intelligent or whether they only behave intelligently. ||
 * Problem Solving**
 * 1 ||  || Introduce data collection and problem solving. ||
 * 2 ||  || Introduce the four steps of the problem solving process. ||
 * 3 ||  || Apply the problem solving process. Use different strategies to plan and carry out the plan to solve several problems. ||
 * 4 ||  || Reinforce the four steps of the problems solving process. ||
 * 5 ||  || Count in the binary number system. Convert between binary and decimal numbers in the context of topics that are important to computer science. ||
 * 6 ||  || Introduce the linear and binary search algorithms. ||
 * 7 ||  || Explore sorted and unsorted lists and various sorting algorithms. ||
 * 8 ||  || Introduce minimal spanning trees and how graphs can be used to help solve problems. ||
 * 9 ||  || Final projects and presentations ||
 * 8 ||  || Introduce minimal spanning trees and how graphs can be used to help solve problems. ||
 * 9 ||  || Final projects and presentations ||


 * Web Design**
 * 1 ||  || Explore issues of social responsibility in web use as well as the relative merits of the influence of the web on society, personal lives, and education. ||
 * 2 ||  || Introduce the use of basic html. ||
 * 3 ||  || Explore image editing for the web using Photoshop or an image editor of choice. ||
 * 4 ||  || Introduce basic css. ||
 * 5 ||  || Explore the concept of separating style from structure by keeping separate html and css files. ||
 * 6 ||  || Add hyperlinks to other websites. ||
 * 7 ||  || Introduce a variety of page layout styles. ||
 * 8 ||  || Practice the use of various design elements. ||
 * 9 ||  || Introduce several different enhancements for website design, including web user interface elements combining Javascript, html, css, and Photoshop, accordion menus, lightbox and sliding images. ||
 * 10 ||  || Introduce several different enhancements for website design, including web user interface elements combining Javascript, html, css, and Photoshop, accordion menus, lightbox and sliding images. ||
 * 11 ||  || Final projects and gallery walk ||


 * Introduction to Programming Unit Overview**


 * 1. ||  || Introduction to Flash ||
 * 2. ||  || Different types of animation ||
 * 3. ||  || Introduction to ActionScript ||
 * 4. ||  || Create buttons ||
 * 5. ||  || Introduce the concept of variable ||


 * Robotics**
 * 1 ||  || What is a robot? Identify the criteria that make an item a robot. ||
 * 2 ||  || Evaluate robot body designs and create algorithms to control robot behavior. ||
 * 3 ||  || Set up LEGO® Mindstorms® NXT® kit. ||
 * 4 ||  || Build robot base. ||
 * 5 ||  || Introduce the features of NXT Brick—the “brain” of the robot. ||
 * 6 ||  || Introduce the features of the Mindstorms NXT software. ||
 * 7 ||  || Program the robot using the Mindstorm Robot Educator Software tutorials. ||
 * 8 ||  || Introduce RoboCup real life robotic competition and write instructions for tic-tac-toe. ||
 * 9 ||  || RoboTic-Tac-Toe Tournament and introduction to RoboCupJunior Dance Challenge. ||
 * 10 ||  || Build, program, and present a dancing robot. ||
 * 11 ||  || Build program and present a rescue robot. ||
 * 12 ||  || Final projects and presentations ||