alice-teacher Alice Institute at CMU

Fri Apr 1 10:09:19 EDT 2011

Hi David,
I would love to have access to your resources as well.  I've always
taught C/C++ the "old school" way by teaching structured first then
branching out into OOP in the second course, but now I'm using Alice in
my intro course and I'm struggling a bit with the "objects first"
approach...
Thanks!
Ryan

Ryan J. Mete
Computer Science
Salisbury Middle School
410.677.5149 x4750

>>> David Fenton <fenton at fdn.uq.edu.au> 3/31/2011 5:58 PM >>>
G'day Deedee,

I basically re-thought the whole teaching process based around
object-oriented programming instead of structured programming. I based
it heavily on the resources available from the Alice site, but put it
all into my templates and teaching style. I deliver lectures each week
which are followed up by worksheets that students must complete for
homework (they get the answers from the lectures). We then have three
follow-up practical classes where they must do specific tasks based
around Alice. Sometimes I just get them to do an Alice tutorial, other
times I give them complete instructions ... do this, do that, then do
this etc. I can send you a copy of our teaching schedule if you are
interested and some sample lectures, worksheets, tasks. We also get
students to do a practical test in a 50 minutes session and offer them
an opportunity to present a project demonstrating their skills. I
haven't written the project specifications yet. We teach NS Diagrams as
a planning method instead of flowcharts.

Cheers 
David Ô¿Ô
===========================================================================
David Fenton (DipTeach, BEd, TTC, GradDipComp, DipBusAdmin, MInfTech,
MACS)
Information Technology Department
UQ Foundation Year
International Education Services Ltd
PO Box 989
Spring Hill  QLD  4004
Ph:  +61 7 3832 7699
Fax: +61 7 3832 9850
Web: http://www.foundationyear.com/
CRICOS No. 01697J

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-----Original Message-----
From: alice-teachers-bounces+fenton=fdn.uq.edu.au at lists.andrew.cmu.edu
[mailto:alice-teachers-bounces+fenton=fdn.uq.edu.au at lists.andrew.cmu.edu]
On Behalf Of Herrera, Deedee
Sent: Friday, 1 April 2011 2:31 AM
To: 'Alice educators'
Subject: Re: alice-teacher Alice Institute at CMU

Hi David,
I would love to hear your ideas of how you rewrote the Visual Basic
class.  We are in the process of trying to update as well.
Deedee

-----Original Message-----
From: alice-teachers-bounces+deedee=dc3.edu at lists.andrew.cmu.edu
[mailto:alice-teachers-bounces+deedee=dc3.edu at lists.andrew.cmu.edu] On
Behalf Of David Fenton
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 10:33 PM
To: Alice educators
Subject: Re: alice-teacher Alice Institute at CMU

Wow, I would love to attend, but I am in Brisbane Australia! 
<grin>When's a workshop to be schedule here?</grin> I have just
completed six months of writing a course based around Alice to replace
our ageing Visual Basic course for post-secondary students. I love
Alice. It is already solving many issues regarding student focus and
attention span!

===========================================================================
David Fenton (DipTeach, BEd, TTC, GradDipComp, DipBusAdmin, MInfTech,
MACS) Information Technology Department UQ Foundation Year International
Education Services Ltd PO Box 989 Spring Hill  QLD  4004
Web: http://www.foundationyear.com/
CRICOS No. 01697J
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: alice-teachers-bounces+fenton=fdn.uq.edu.au at lists.andrew.cmu.edu
[mailto:alice-teachers-bounces+fenton=fdn.uq.edu.au at lists.andrew.cmu.edu]
On Behalf Of Don Slater
Sent: Wednesday, 30 March 2011 11:03 PM
To: Alice Teachers
Subject: alice-teacher Alice Institute at CMU

Carnegie Mellon will host the Alice Institute for interested high
school and college instructors. This Institute will consist of two
workshops. The first workshop will be focused on Alice 2.2 and will be
held June 19 - June 24. Plan on arriving on Sunday, June 19, and
departing Friday afternoon, June 24. This workshop will explore the
Alice 2.2 programming environment as an effective and engaging tool to
introduce students from middle school through college level to
programming and Computer Science, perhaps in preparation for a CS 1
course.

The second workshop will be focused on Alice 3, and will be held June
26 - July 1. Plan on arriving on Sunday, June 26, and departing Friday
afternoon, July 1. This workshop will explore the Alice 3 programming
environment as an effective and engaging tool for students in a Computer
Science 1 or Advanced Placement course in Java.

Working with nationally recognized experts in Alice, a tool developed
at Carnegie Mellon, teachers in both workshops will develop an
understanding of Alice, and teaching methods suitable for presenting
Alice in their own unique environment. The workshop is appropriate for
any instructor who is considering or currently using Alice in a pre-CS1
or CS1 course.

You should note that there is a registration fee of $300, plus your
housing and meals. More details and registration page can be found at:

https://web.campusservices.cmu.edu/conferences/registration.taf?ID=2011alice

Let me know if you have any questions.

Donald Slater
Alice Team
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Office phone: (412) 268-4370

I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances
confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the
life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common
hours.
--- Henry David Thoreau

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