This past Monday, I visited the Computer Science Department at UAB. I was impressed with the programs they have that reach out to the community, especially to high school students in the local area. They offer computer science camps and competitions in the summer and programs throughout the year are available for elementary and up to show students what computer science is really all about. Dr. Jeff Gray told me that most people, parents included, seem to think that computer science is about using word processing or other office-type products. He wants to get more schools in Alabama to offer the kinds of computer classes that will introduce students to programming and other skills that will help them to be more successful. There are only a handful of schools offering these AP level courses for students in our high schools. Hopefully, we will be able to offer more in the future. If you've read The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman, you know that technological skills, problem solving skills and communication skills are all going to be critical for survival in our world. Programming allows students to develop the skills they will need. There are programming languages like Squeak and Alice that introduce younger students to the exciting world of computer science. We need to get the word out and get more schools and students involved. Contact the UAB Computer Information and Sciences department or read more about these programs at the links below.
Alice: http://www.alice.org/
The focus of the Alice project is now to provide the best possible first exposure to programming for students ranging from middle schoolers to college students.
Squeakland: http://www.squeakland.org/
Squeak is a media authoring tool used to design and create projects. It involves a lot of different skills which include sequencing-like programming commands. On the site you will find many educational uses. There is a great html page showing an excellent introductory project for 9, 10, and 11 year olds. Reading through this project will help you understand what Squeak is all about. Squeak is open source software, created by a body of individuals. You can read more about the significant contributors on the Squeak site. A new book by BJ Allen-Conn and Kim Rose was published in 2003. It is called "Powerful Ideas in the Classroom - Using Squeak to Enhance Math and Science Learning". It tells of exciting projects created in Squeak with 5th and 6th Graders and would be a useful guide for parents and teachers.
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