Computer Science Education Week
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Computer Science Education Week
By Kelly Cronin
The first full week of December is Computer Science Education Week, celebrating the importance of computer science education for both students and educators alike. Computer science education has the power to shape our future, and it is becoming more and more prevalent in classrooms all over the country. Take a look at how new technologies are benefitting computer science education.
Managed Solution displayed the HoloLens at CalPoly Cyber Security & Awareness Fair
Managed Solution participated in the 2016 Cal Poly Pomona Cyber Security & Awareness Fair. The fair aimed to bring awareness to the world of Cyber Security where our entire world is progressing into an internet connected world. At the fair students and faculty got to experience a variety of speakers that have in-depth knowledge of the Cyber Security do’s and don’ts and experience in the Cyber Security field, a poster contest where students displayed their research of pressing issues in the Information Technology Industry, and a hands-on exhibit that allowed students to experience the world of a typical attacker on Internet of Things products.
Students demonstrate their HoloLens apps after a quarter of VR and AR design
At the University of Washington, a computer science classroom is equipping their students with HoloLens headsets to let them develop their own apps. One app developed is called HoloScanner, which redesigns the process of scanning a room and turns it into a game that can then be used for other apps. Other apps include augmented reality cooking, a painting app, and more.
HackingSTEM: Using Computational Thinking to Understand Earthquakes
Millions of students worldwide are in the process of discovering the possibilities of instructing machines to accomplish tasks. Whether completing the Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial, or watching a Pixar In a Box episode on Khan Academy, the spirit of discovery, experimentation and the art of Computer Science is celebrated while students build core 21st century software engineering skills.
This month, the Education Workshop has partnered with the California Academy of Sciences and KQED to combine coding with mechanical engineering and data science to empower students to use computational thinking to experience how engineers and computer scientists are working together to mitigate the impact of earthquakes.
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Announcing Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2016 World Champion!
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Announcing Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2016 World Champion!
By Steve Guggenheimer as written on blogs.microsoft.com
Now in its 14th year, nothing embodies the spirit of student innovation at Microsoft more than Imagine Cup, the company’s global technology competition that aims to give young developers the opportunity to acquire new and critical technical, business and team-building skills.
Today, Team ENTy of Romania took their place as the 2016 Imagine Cup World Champion during a live broadcast and in front of hundreds of students in the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center at Seattle’s Garfield High School.
Team ENTy’s project is an app for monitoring balance and posture. The team’s members include Flavia Oprea, Iulian-Razvan Matesica and Cristian Alexandrescu.
The final leg of the nearly year-long Imagine Cup journey began on Wednesday, when 35 teams from all over the globe competed in front of our judges for the top three spots in the Games, Innovation and World Citizenship categories. Team PH21 of Thailand in Games, Team ENTy of Romania in Innovation and Team AMANDA of Greece in World Citizenship each claimed their $50,000 category prize and then moved on to the Championship round to compete for the grand prize – the Imagine Cup crown and a private mentoring session with Satya.
Their innovations were judged by a trio of out-of-this world judges who helped to decide which of these incredible teams would be the Imagine Cup 2016 Champion, including special guest John Boyega, lead actor from Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Dr. Jennifer Tang, one-half of the duo that won the 2014 Imagine Cup Championship; and Kasey Champion, an accomplished software engineer and Computer Science Curriculum Developer at Microsoft.
During the Championship Show, it was exciting to see finalists’ reactions as they received words of encouragement and inspiration from the likes of Seattle Seahawks superstar quarterback Russell Wilson and hit recording artist and Garfield High alum Macklemore, both of whom congratulated the students on making it this far in the competition and wished them luck on their innovation journey.
During the final leg of their journey, Imagine Cup student finalists gained a number of valuable experiences – and inspired us every step of the way. They participated in a live hackathon and got to see first-hand just how powerful a few lines of code can be. The Garfield High gymnasium was transformed into a Robo World Cup Hackathon space where more than a 100 local high school students from the Boys & Girls Club and Garfield High joined Imagine Cup competitors. The hackathon, run by Microsoft Student Partners, helped students build and customize a robot kit using Windows 10 and Microsoft Azure, and tested their innovation in a World Cup style soccer style elimination tournament. The winners received an Xbox One, HP Spectre laptop and a World Cup trophy.
On behalf of Microsoft, I’d like to offer Team ENTy and all the students who dreamed big and worked so hard throughout this year’s Imagine Cup a hearty and well-deserved congratulations!
Guggs
CATEGORY WINNERS
Games Category:
First Place, $50,000 prize: Team PH21 of Thailand, for its project Timelie, a stealth puzzle game.
Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team None Developers of Indonesia, for its project Froggy and the Pesticide, a game designed to raise environmental awareness.
Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team Tower Up of Brazil, for its project Sonho de Jequi, a runner game.
Innovation Category:
First Place, $50,000 prize: Team ENTy of Romania, which developed an app for monitoring balance and posture.
Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team Bit Masters of Sri Lanka, which developed a low-cost digital signage platform for advertising.
Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team HealthX of the United States, which developed a solution to help doctors and patients diagnose amblyopia.
World Citizenship Category:
First Place, $50,000 prize: Team AMANDA of Greece, which built an anti-bullying app that leverages virtual reality.
Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team Night’s Watch of Tunisia, which designed and built a smart prosthetic for individuals who have lost a limb.
Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team Insimu of Hungary, which designed a virtual reality app to improve the safe and correct medical diagnoses of patients.
Ability Award:
Microsoft Ability Boot Camp: Team BoneyCare of China, which designed an app to treat speech impairments such as stuttering.
Microsoft Student Partner of the year:
Lisa Wong of Canada, University of British Columbia
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GOVERNORS LAUNCH BIPARTISAN PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION
Governors Launch Bipartisan Partnership to Expand Access to Computer Science Education
On February 21, 2016, Governors Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) and Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) announced a new partnership to promote K-12 computer science education at the state level at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting.
Currently, only 1 out of 4 schools offer computer science instruction — teaching students to create technology, not just use it. Demand for increased and earlier access to computer science is growing among educators, parents, and employers. In a recent survey, 90 percent of parents said they want computer science taught in schools. Today, there are more than 600,000 open computing jobs across the U.S. in every industry and these are among the fastest growing, highest paying jobs in the US.
“There are few jobs today that don’t require some degree of technology or computer use, whether it’s auto mechanics, fashion design or engineering. A big part of our children’s success in the 21st century economy will be to ensure every student feels confident in front of a computer,” said Governor Inslee. “In Washington state we’ve had great bipartisan success promoting stronger computer science education, including teacher training and learning standards. I’m hopeful that governors around the country will join us in making computer science one of the basic skills every child learns.”
To address the education gap, governors joining the Partnership for K-12 Computer Science will work toward three key policy goals in their states:
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Enable all high schools to offer at least one rigorous computer science course;
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Fund professional learning opportunities so educators can be prepared to teach these courses; and
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Create a set of high-quality academic K-12 computer science standards to guide local implementation of courses.
Governors Asa Hutchinson and Jay Inslee will serve as the bipartisan co-chairs for the initiative; they are calling on their colleagues to join them. Participating governors will also share best practices for expanding access to computer science, and advocate for federal policies to support computer science instruction.
“I’m delighted to join fellow governors to promote computer science education in schools across the country. I strongly believe this is paramount to the future of the American economy, and a critical step in preparing the next generation for the fastest growing field in the world,” said Governor Asa Hutchinson. “This time last year, our state passed the most comprehensive computer science education law in the country and appropriated significant funding to train teachers. And we’re not done yet. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in other states.”
The Partnership builds on increasing nationwide momentum for computer science education. In January, President Obama proposed $4.1 billion in his budget to support K-12 computer science. More than 20 states have proposed policies to expand access to computer science instruction, and districts are investing time and resources in preparing tens of thousands of educators to teach the subject. Last year, one of every three schools in the U.S. participated in the Hour of Code, a global campaign designed to address misperceptions about computer science.
“It’s amazing to see computer science sweeping across the nation's K-12 public schools, to provide a better future for our children,” said Hadi Partovi, CEO of Code.org. “Washington and Arkansas have led the way, but other states like Idaho, Utah, Massachusetts, Georgia and Alabama are also making this a priority. This new partnership will help expand that groundswell across the US.”
Code.org will provide the Partnership with resources related to best practices in policy and programs, and will facilitate collaboration among governors and their staff.
Source: http://www.governorsforcs.org