Adventures in Computational Thinking By: Caitlin Zahlis

1. CSE 3 Fluency With Information Technology (FIT) Computational Thinking Data Analysis and Visualization with MS Excel Visual Programming with Alice • Becoming skilled at Information Technology (IT): fluency and proficiency with traditional computer literacy in which high level reasoning and problem solving play a big role. • Proficiency in creating and managing algorithms and digitizing information • Analyzing and presenting data information We created an annual budget specified to our own projected futures, so we can monitor our spending while here at UCSD, as well as in the future. We can calculate how much money we can spend on “wants” rather than “needs” each month. We converted complex data into easily understood charts and graphs, as one of the most common uses of the spreadsheet is to chart financial information. Alice provided us an innovative programming environment to support the creation of 3D animations. Alice provided tools and materials that taught us computational thinking, problem solving, and computer programming. Alice's interactive interface allowed us to drag and drop graphic tiles to create a program where the instructions corresponded to standard statements in the programming language (including JavaScript). By manipulating objects in the virtual world, we gained experience with programming constructs.   Adventures in Computational ThinkingBy: Caitlin Zahlis Making Information Available to the World with HTML and Web Pages Caitlin Zahlis Utilizing our CSE 3 server and “Secure File Transfer Client,” we put files on the internet so that everyone in the world can see them. To transfer files to our web server we: Double click on public_html on the right side of the window. Move the entire CSE3 folder as well as index.html into our public_html folder Desktop Publishing with MS Word Presentation of Information with MS PowerPoint Dynamic Webpage Programming with JavaScript In addition to word processing, MS word is a capable desktop publishing application. It includes features that allowed us to create sophisticated designs and page spreads. This program automates formatting, including a “Table of Context” and “Work Cited.” It's drawing tools, fill effects and text boxes allow us to create aesthetically pleasing displays of information in document or PDF form. We use the program, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2010. We create new slides while inserting our Excel charts into our presentation. We stylize, format and add animation to each slide. The PowerPoint presentation allows us to clearly present otherwise difficult-to-read information through orderly slides which contain charts, graphs, images and little written description. It allowed us to present information that we gathered through our spreadsheets. Using JavaScript, we can create dynamic, interactive web pages that include image rollovers, pop-up windows, auto-scrolling frames, intelligent forms, and sophisticated HTML effects. Programming helps us to learn how to break down problems into small, digestible pieces while it forces us to think logically.