CS 1.0: Why Computer Science? Why We Program? WHY? WHY? WHY?

I have made it a goal this year to help contribute and create a free online, interactive, and helpful platform for educators and students begin to process computer science for classrooms. I know there are huge resources already developed and plenty of books, curriculum, websites, MOOCs, etc.

In some ways this is reinventing the wheel. I know. I get it!

BUT…….

It is overwhelming. Where is a person to start who is just beginning? Where do you go when you are selected to teach this new course with limited time, funds, space, and knowledge? How do we help students, teachers and the community at large understand the importance of learning these concepts?

What I am aiming to do is to create a curated source of ideas and resources from both people in the fields doing this work and by the educators who are actually teaching these concepts. Not someone sitting on the outside trying to force ideas that don’t work in a classroom of 30.

It is a journey. It will not be perfect, but I want to develop over this school year and beyond a resource that is helpful and impactful. Beyond resources, I want to begin to add weekly projects and activities, add lessons, provide a place for Q&A, and more.

Let’s start with a baby step.

While I navigate the best place to house all of this and to make it accessible by all I want to get the conversations started.

I have the first part figured out and that is beginning to ask WHY?

CS 1.0: Why Computer Science? Why We Program? WHY? WHY? WHY?

I have two platforms to help people find answers to this big question.

1. Wakelet – Wakelet is a phenomenal tool to help us curate resources. I have linked you to my Wakelet page where you can add articles, book, videos, documents, etc. that help provide answers to these questions. This will be where we house our content for us to use.
2. Flipgrid – Another wonderful tool. This Flipgrid has a channel for you to introduce yourself so we can learn who is in the collective workforce. There is a channel for you to give your own answer to this question.

I look forward to building a community that will join me on this journey. As we spend time on the why I will continue to develop a place to house all of this and begin to share more for us to learn together.

In the meantime, welcome!