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How To Engage Students & Double Uptake in Computer Science Classes Kevin Miller CEO. The Job Potential for Students. Within 5 years 3 devices will exist for every person on the planet. The State of ICT Teaching in the UK.
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How To Engage Students & Double Uptake in Computer Science Classes • Kevin Miller • CEO
The Job Potential for Students Within 5 years 3 devices will exist for every person on the planet
The State of ICT Teaching in the UK • “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has left children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word and Excel by bored teachers” • Michael Gove, Education Secretary The UK is home of so many media-related inventions. You invented photography. You invented TV. You invented computers in both concept and practice. Yet today, none of the world's leading exponents in these fields are from the UK."- Eric Schmidt, Google
A Typical View from the Classroom • “I hated programming, that’s why I decided not to do Computer Studies during my senior years at secondary school.” • “Programming is just like maths - I don’t like maths!” • “I don’t understand this bit of code!” • “How do I get my program to do this again?” • “This isn’t logical...” • Students struggle to see the point of the programs they create in a real life context because they are creating code that they don’tfully understand.
Introducing RunRev • Founded in Founded in 1997 inEdinburgh • We believe “everyone can code” • We aim to take the complexity out ofcomputer programming • Acquired IP - from American softwarecompany (with backing ofMike Markkula, Apple co-founder) • Built the multi-platform LiveCode product for desktop • Expanded to mobile platforms 2 years ago • Went open source 2 months ago
Introducing LiveCode Programming Tool & Language • LiveCode uses plain-English words and phrases eliminating the obscure symbols and complicated structures required of other programming languages. • LiveCode is easy to learn and use, requires 90% less code, and can deliver a 10-fold increase in productivity over traditional languages. • LiveCode, is called LiveCode because the code is live and you can see results immediately. • LiveCode lets you write code once and deploy to all platforms. • LiveCode is used to build #1 App Store Apps and major business systems.
LiveCode Comparison vs. JavaScript • JavaScript: • theText = theText.split("\n"); • theText = theText.sort(sort_item_3).join("\n"); • function sort_item_3(line1, line2) { • line1 = line1.split(","); • line2 = line2.split(","); • if(line1[2] == line2[2]) return 0; • else if(line1[2] > line2[2]) return -1; • else return 1; • } • LiveCode: • sort lines of the Text descending by last item of each
LiveCode Apps & Awards • Maths App – #1 in many iTunes Stores • Forest Walk – #1 in German iTunes Store • 20/20 Vision - #1 visual acuity software in USA • Nasa/USGS – Satellite monitoring systems
Doubling Uptake in Schools! • Nearly a third of Scottish High Schools are now teaching with LiveCode • LiveCode is taught in the USA and other countries around the world • Interest levels and pass rates have improved and increased • Schools that have used LiveCode for more than 1 year have seen a doubling of uptake in senior computing
Scottish Students.... “It’s so much easier to understand compared to that other programming language that we used.” S5 Higher Student “I loved creating my own apps. It’s what I want to do at Uni. ” S5 Higher Student “I liked using it so much that I decided to do some more programming at home.” S4 Standard Grade Student
Increasing Uptake by Girls (USA) • My 9th grader's classes (HTML, LiveCode) are between 50-65% girls. • The Intro. Course (Python, LiveCode, +) are 14-25% girls • The Advanced Placement classes (College Level Java) are 18-36% girls. • Previously in each class, I could count the number of girls on one hand.
Increasing Uptake by Girls (USA) • “Traditional programming classes are very linear and structured. The programming assignments are also rigid and usually un-inspiring. That works against attracting creative and diverse students to computer science.” • “With LiveCode and doing game programming, they can get started writing programs the very first day. It is easy for me to lead them through programs on the overhead screen, then challenge them to improve upon what we just did. The commands are not too hard for them to work through on their own. “ • “Then after the first week or two, they have been shown enough to start making their own games. That is the key. They are not all doing some boring, tedious, look-a-like program. Even though they have the same assignment, there are no 2 that will be done or look the same.” • “It becomes very individualized and they become the creators/owners of their products. “
Recent Student Awards A team of 6th year boys from Watson College, using LiveCode, won first place in a programming competition run by Heriot Watt University. Fenton Charter Public Schools earn top honors with ground-breaking App and entire Mutt-i-grees Project
Availability • LiveCode Community Edition is FREE (and open source) • Scottish Syllabus materials FREE (created by teachers) • LiveCode forum FREE - teacher meet to collaborate, share best practice, tips and hints • Download at www.livecode.com
Schools Academy and Learning Pack • 20 seat subscription to all Online Academies • LiveCode University (from next week) • App Academy • Simple Game Academy • Advanced Game Academy • 1 Commercial License for class teacher • £330 per year
Commitment from RunRev • To identify ways to recognise and measure student achievement. • Encourage teachers participation in the LiveCode education steering group. • To provide a collaboration platform for all teachers to share best practice. • To continue to develop product and services that meet teachers needs. • To provide mentorship to students. • Where possible, to provide work experience to students.
