| I like REWORK, the book by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Their ideas for running a business are out of the ordinary, which makes them extraordinary. Some sections stand out as applying to many businesses. I have included selected quotes so you can get some ideas. But, if you care about the business you are in, you should read the book. They write interesting titles like “Ignore the real world” and “mission statement impossible” and “meetings are toxic.” and “don’t copy” your competitors. Listen to your customers and let them know that you are listening, but think for yourself. As Henry Ford said, “if I’d listened to customers, I’d have given them a faster horse.” They are straightforward. I would say: Some planning is important, but they say “Planning is guessing.” If you’re not careful, “plans let the past drive the future.” And “plans are inconsistent with improvisation. And you have to be able to improvise.” About employees, “when you treat people like children, you get children’s work. Employees need to ask permission before they can do anything. They need to get approval for any tiny expenditure.” And “when everything constantly needs approval, you create a culture of non-thinkers.” What a waste. Do you know of any place where this happens? ”What is the best way to deliver the newest technology training for students – integrated into the curriculum or in dedicated computer science department courses?” I consulted with Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC a few years ago on this interesting and important question, which has been debated for years. Technology, as we think of it in education today, is (a set of) tools programmers created using the principles of computer science. Technology tools are widely used in colleges, business, and everyday professional life. So, it makes sense to make sure our students know how to use them. Newer technology tools, like digital video and networked resources, are becoming increasingly important for a good education. Knowledge and skills learned in one class are most useful for students when they are reinforced in other classes. So, all classes reinforce proper use of reading and writing. Mathematics skills are useful in science classes, word processing is used in many classes, presentation tools can be used in many classes, and spreadsheets can be used where appropriate. When asking which teacher should teach technology, ask: Which teacher should teach writing? A writing teacher, or someone else? Which teacher should teach mathematics? A math teacher, or someone else? The answer is, a specialist should teach the important parts of the curriculum in each subject area, with reinforcing use in other classes. Technology and computer science have become so important that they should be treated as subjects, and not be considered just an add-on to other subjects. There is an important distinction between teaching technology and teaching computer science, although they are closely related. Technology classes teach the use of technology tools, while computer science classes teach how to create new tools. It is important to spread the teaching of computer science, so our society will be able to build the tools it needs to remain successfully competitive in an increasingly interconnected world. Yes, it is that important. Several computer science sessions were held at the Advanced Placement Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. during July 2010. I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and thought all the CS sessions and the plenary sessions were well done. The official website is http://www.collegeboard.com/events/apac/2010/homepage/index.html. To see the official listing, click on the large search icon at the right and choose Computer Science as the subject. Results from the 2010 AP Computer Science Reading was presented by Laurie White (head of CSAP) and Tracy Ishman (on development committee). They are leaders in the AP CS program and it was good to hear directly from them. The AP process takes time, so no changes to the case study for at least four years. They are currently starting to write the 2012 exam. They presented preliminary data on the 2010 exams. There were over 19 thousand A exams, about 2500 more than previously. There were fewer total CS exams, though. The multiple choice sections averaged 48.8% and free response sections averaged 59.4% correct, with a total average 53.9%. They talked about the grading process. The score distributions 5 through 1 were 26.1%, 24.1%, 14.0%, 8%, and 27.1%. The most challenging free response question was 4, but that can vary. The first one is often the gentlest. It is good to have students familiar with the Quick Reference materials, which can be downloaded. Starting next year, all AP multiple choice sections will be graded one point per correct answer, with no penalty for incorrect answers. Hands-On Learning in Computer Science was presented by Tracy Ishman (Tracy.Ishman@pisd.edu). She presented several ideas to facilitate concrete understanding of abstract concepts. Games Programming in Pre-AP Computer Science, presented by Tim McMichael, was about his Game Design and Development (GDD) course. Building Computer Science Communities, led by John Harrison (jharrison64@cox.net), gave us a chance to brainsttorm on what we would want a CS community to do for us, obstacles, and conferences and workshop resources. The ending session was Games as a Broad Introduction to Computer Science, by Jam Jenkins who co-developed a web IDE, was very interesting. I was so intent on exploring his work that I forgot to save notes. Oops. Java is the most sought tech skill set according to a Computerworld article published Friday. I am pleased because Java is the language I use at Detroit Country Day School to teach computer science concepts. It is also the language chosen by the College Board for its Advanced Placement Computer Science test. An email from the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) came late Friday evening. Their Executive Committee approved Michigan’s application for a chapter of CSTA called MiCSTA (Michigan Computer Science Teachers Association)! I spearheaded MiCSTA’s formation and application and had been elected president to take effect upon the group’s official beginning. MiCSTA’s goal is to promote the teaching and learning of Computer Science in the State of Michigan. We are working to have more people understand the importance knowledge of computer science has for our students’ future. More to come.
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