Ingrid Russell
Mihaela Sabin
ABSTRACT
We present preliminary experiences in designing a Computer Science Principles undergraduate course for all majors that is based on physical computing with the Arduino microprocessor platform. The course goal is to introduce students to fundamental computing concepts in the context of developing concrete products. This physical computing approach is different from other existing CS Principles courses. Students use the Arduino platform to design tangible interactive systems that are personally and socially relevant to them, while learning computing concepts and reflecting on their experiences. In a previous publication [1], we reported on assessment results of using the Arduino platform in an Introduction to Digital Design course. We have introduced this platform in an introductory computing course at the University of Hartford in the past year as well as in a Systems Fundamentals Discovery Course at the University of New Hampshire to satisfy the general education requirements in the Environment, Technology, and Society category. Our goal is to align the current curriculum with the CS Principles framework to design a course that engages a broader audience through a creative making and contextualized learning experience.
- Mellodge, P. and Russell, I. Using the Arduino Platform to Enhance Student Learning Experiences In Proceedings of the 2013 conference on Innovation & technology in computer science education (ITiCSE'13). Google Scholar
Digital Library
- Przybylla, M. Physical Computing in Computer Science Education In Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference on International Computing Education Research (ICER'14). Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
Make and Learn: A CS Principles Course Based on the Arduino Platform
Recommendations
Engaging college students in service learning to grow the K-12 computing pipeline and prepare the 21st century workforce (abstract only)
SIGCSE '14: Proceedings of the 45th ACM technical symposium on Computer science educationThe demand for computing professionals in the U.S. workforce is expected to increase over the next several years, while the number of students intending to major in computing has declined. In this BOF session, we focus on the use of service learning to ...
Increasing Capacity for Computer Science Education in Rural Areas through a Large-Scale Collective Impact Model
SIGCSE '19: Proceedings of the 50th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science EducationStudents living in rural areas are less likely to attend schools that offer computer science (CS) courses largely because educational institutions in these remote areas lack the resources to staff teaching positions for these courses. This study ...
A State-Wide Effort to Provide Access to Authentic Computer Science Education to Underrepresented Populations
SIGCSE '20: Proceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science EducationThe Exploring Computer Science (ECS) curriculum provides foundational knowledge of Computer Science (CS) to high school students as a stand-alone course. ECS began in the Los Angeles Unified School District in the late 2000s where it gained eminence for ...
Comments