Blog 22: Senior Project Reflection

1) Positive Statement

I was most proud of going above and beyond in time because that was one thing that when practicing was very very hard. Also that I had a nice powerpoint


(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Block Presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE       P+          AP       CR       NC

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

My lessons overall I thought went very well. Also my independent components & mentorship were very interesting and useful.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

Better time management, I frequently "bit off more than I could chew."

(5) Finding Value

This made my understanding of computers much greater which will help with any profession and also senior project taught me the difficulty of juggling a full time schedule and gave me techniques that I can use to handle the schedule.

Blog 21: Mentorship

Literal

• Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties updated on the right hand side of your blog
• Contact Name and Mentorship Place

         DONE

         Richard Hartlein

         Mentorship done at his home but he works for State Collection Services.

Interpretive

• What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

        The most important thing I gained was the knowledge that although I enjoy programming and it may work for a part time job, I do not wish to be a programmer for a profession. Also there is no way to truely understand programming as a topic if I don't do it myself and this mentorship gave me that oppertunity.

 Applied

• How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain.

       Once again. There is no way to truly understand code and programming and what goes into it without experiencing it myself and working at it and learning the goods and the bads. To understand what needs to go into a program, or what can be put into a program, I need to understand what is possible and what really isn't.

Blog 20: Exit Interview

(1) What is your essential question and answers?  What is your best answer and why?

My essential question is; How can a computer programmer best create a program designed to teach kindergartners problem solving? And my answers are by making the program engaging and fun so that students remain focused while learning, using simplified versions of syntax that younger students can understand, and effective subject integration through common core standards.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

Arriving at these answers was not a simple process, and some of them were not the most obvious answers. Through many research articles on the teaching of children using computer programming and interpreting results, and also interviewing programmers, a parent, and a teacher about the important factors they have noticed are needed. Through 
my research, these three answers kept showing up.

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

I faced the problem that the studies of programming used in classrooms being limited in terms of the languages used. There are not a lot of languages used for children this young and also, testing of the implementation in classes other than math and science are not as widely tested and had less reliable questions.   


(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

Fessakis, G., E. Gouli, and E. Mavroudi. "Problem Solving By 5–6 Years Old Kindergarten Children In A Computer Programming Environment: A Case Study." Computers & Education 63.(2013): 87-97. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.

Horn, Michael, R. Crouser, and Marina Bers. "Tangible Interaction And Learning: The Case For A Hybrid Approach." Personal & Ubiquitous Computing 16.4 (2012): 379-389. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

LITERAL
(a)I, Garrett, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
(b)My sources include my mentor who worked with me as well as various google searches on java coding that allowed me to complete my programs.
(c)Done 
d) I did many extra mentor ship hours and also worked on java programs on my own time making them more advanced.    
INTERPRETIVE 

RPS Program

http://puu.sh/8mwxp.txt = RPS Code

http://puu.sh/8mwA9.txt = Failed R Calculator Code

APPLIED
How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped. 
This component helped me answer my EQ in helping me understand code and its significance. My RPS program and my R Calculator have given me various problems and i have been able to work through most of them and all of this gives me more and more of an understanding of what needs to be taken into account while coding, at my age, as well as at younger ages.

Blog 18 Third Answer

• How can a computer programmer best create a program designed to teach kindergarteners problem solving?
• Effective subject integration into common core so all things taught in a programming manner tie into core classes
• The programming course must apply to the common core standards that are being implemented so that the programming "has a purpose that is apparent"
• By effectively integrating students will be able to learn more about computers and function better in current society.
• Programming will allow students to create better work within their school years and never be held back by what a program "cannot do"
• Programming will also allow for problem based learning, even when the school is not and iPoly-like PBL school
• Interview 3
• I believe that this is my most important answer actually. 

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

1. As a teacher what is the most important tool that you use while teaching students? i.e Powerpoints, games, worksheets, lectures...
2. How do you keep students focused during class? 
3. What are some examples of topics being taught in your class now?
4. What subjects being taught at this age do you believe would benefit from having computers and programming integrated into the classroom?
5. What teaching methods seem to have the greatest results when it comes to information retention?
6. In what ways are computers already put to use within your classroom, if at all?
7. Do you believe a TUI or GUI system would be better within the classroom?
8. What features would you like to see in educational programs?
9. What programs or websites do you currently use in the classroom, or have you seen used around campus?
10. Currently what benefits, within the classroom, do you see from the use of computers?
11. What would you like to see the students take out of computer use?
12. Do you believe programming integration would work better with the average student, advanced student, or below average student?
13. How would you teach a programming course within your classroom? With the students acting as individuals, small groups, or as a class?
14. Would the average teacher have enough training with computers to teach within an interactive programming environment?
15. Does the average student have enough knowledge of computers to excel in this environment.
16. What percentage, on estimate, of your students are more motivated or interested when working on computers?
17. What themes would be most effective in keeping students attention? i.e. Barbies, Cars, Dogs, Cats
18. Is there any subject where you would be extremely adverse to integrating programming?
19. Is there anyone who I could also interview to get a clearer understanding of a student's needs/interests?
20. Is there any special needs that children have when it comes to computers that you feel I need to be made aware of?

Blog 16: Advisory Meeting #2

Just like you did for answer 1 and the objectives for Purther's textbook work for answer 2 post:

EQ

Answer #2 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*

3 details to support the answer (a detail is a fact and an example)

The research source (s) to support your details and answer

Concluding Sentence

*Write your answer like you would write a thesis statement.  Please don't give us one or two words or start your sentence with by.    Thanks!

On Friday 2/28 for Advisory #2, you will be presenting what you have from this blog.  The presentation is more like a share-out and should not last longer than 2 minutes. You don't need a visual.   

EQ

The most important factor in teaching a kindergartner problem solving through programming is Simplicity. 

1. They cannot handle complicated syntax, like vb.net or Java. It is way to complex and involves too much specificity. 
2. If something is too complex, a young student is likely to give up instantly and not truely try, whereas if it's challenging but attainable, then they will normally fight their way through.
3. The ability to understand and be able to create programs to do varying tasks is too hard for young brains if the code itself is too advanced.

     Scheer, Scott D. "Programming Parameters for 5-to-8-Year-Old Children in 4-H." Programming Parameters for 5-to-8-Year-Old Children in 4-H. Journal Of Extention, Aug. 1997. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. <http://www.joe.org/joe/1997august/a2.php>.

Horn, Michael, R. Crouser, and Marina Bers. "Tangible Interaction And Learning: The Case For A Hybrid Approach." Personal & Ubiquitous Computing 16.4 (2012): 379-389. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.

Fessakis, G., E. Gouli, and E. Mavroudi. "Problem Solving By 5–6 Years Old Kindergarten Children In A Computer Programming Environment: A Case Study." Computers & Education 63.(2013): 87-97. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.