Category: Blog

I live in my car – a lot – those of you think I am just a computer geek are wrong, I am a dog geek too.  I do dog agility which involves a lot of sitting in the car.  I also have a vast array of internet enabled devices, notebooks, netbooks, Zunes, chumbies and the like.

Just got the cigarette plug for the thing (Amazon gift certificate, love them, send them to me) and while using in inverter wasn’t bad, it just made the set up better.

Right now, I’m sitting in my garage, plugging about the thing, and will hit publish in a minute and send this.  Yes, I was pulling email, etc. while driving in Dallas traffic.  No, I was reading it, but it’s here and ready for me when I want it.

Yes, I can use my phone for that, but having the information on the netbook is even easier.  And it’s going to be fabulous during dog show season.

By the way, I’ve yet to use my monthly allotment of internet, but maybe now.  I usually do use two computers when I am doing anything useful.  Or at least dual monitors.

Only problem is the aircard.  If it gets disconnected, it goes into Airplane Mode and now the only way I know to reset it, is through the Sierra Wireless Watcher.  Need to plug it in at the house and read the manual.

Some of the things I liked about it, is that it comes with no CD.  Worried me at first, but if you plug it in and connect it, you automatically get set up and documentation in your browser.

Found answer – if the aircard disconnects, reboot the router and it works like a champ.  Love it!

Started the day with Lab Tests – yeah, hands on.  Uses them to equalize grades.

Split people between Gridworld and Lego Robots, I’m staying for GridWorld.  And yeah – more hands on.  However, more housekeeping problems!

ARGH!!!! Too much irrelevant talking.

More Gridworld after break.

Lunch

More Gridworld – hands on

Sharing

Lego Tank – cool but costs $$$$

Small Basic

NonMath Math

XnaStuff

Arrays (arrays and arraylists)

Generics

Unfortunately most of this really fast and really lecture style.

Next bummer – their firewall is up – I can do twitter, but not facebook or Typepad.

Spending a huge amount of time again housekeeping.  I’m sorry but I really do prefer in teaching in a lab that is preconfigured.  Cuts down on housekeeping.

We are doing some basic Gridworld stuff.  Am liking it.

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Lunch

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Inheritance – more talking

 

Random numbers

 

Free Response quizzes – closest to hands on all afternoon

Leon introduces a End of Year Graphics project so that the students can work on it when ever they finish something early.

Addressed inappropriate material or dishonesty when it comes to the project.

So far, this afternoon has also been plagued with Technical Issues

 

Late afternoon is OOP

Thoughts on NXT

Nice graphical programming language.  Quite expensive – though it is motivating for students to see their robot respond to their commands.

Can do the same things with Alice (Free) and Scratch (Free) but aren’t driving robots. 

I’d rather do the same thing with Java (and perhaps there is one, I think so) if I am spending the money. 

Leon says that there is Java but it is very advanced Java. 

Quote of the day:  Many things done in Java are done in a tedious way!

Leon solves that program with an Expo class.

Spent the rest morning on how he has students learn Java rules

Slight technical difficulties so filled moments while we were sneaker-waring files by talking about pedagogy.

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Lego Robots

Spent a lot of time installing the software, listening to rules in using robots, etc.

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Lab – Lecture approach

Provide programs that illustrate what you are lecturing – I believe that the A Plus Material is set up the same way.

 

The first set of Lego robot programs display data – basically “Hello World!”

The second set of Lego robot programs show how to use variables.

 

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On Break now

While the new teachers were learning how to do Gridworld – the four experienced teachers built lego workshops. two males and teo females. the other female had built them before and she did help me a lot and we beat the males.

We’re at John Paul II Catholic High School and Leon Schram is presenting.  The facility is wonderful and Leon has been doing this AP thing even longer than I have.

The facility here is gorgeous.  The students have their own computers so Leon provided a few notebooks and desktops for people who didn’t have them, or didn’t bring them.

Has full technology set up with technical support.  Nice big LCD TV, two projectors, and a regular white board.  Will be interesting to see how he implements.  The desks are set up with wired connections, and they have wireless network.  Today, at least, I’m using my 3G router.

I’m going to try to live blog on a network, and work on a network.

We will get a full set of presentations each day via CD.  Will have to pull out my external CD Drive.

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First focus is on getting everyone on the same page with the same files. 

And in the meantime, I’m having problems with the ATT 3G network.  May be plugging into their wired network.

Which I did end up doing.

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Most of the morning is getting everyone on the same page.

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After introductions, Leon went over the AP Audit process.  As of the moment, I am showing that I need to be updated in August.  So far, as long as you are at the same school and same course, you don’t have to make any changes.

The AP administrator just needs to update everything in August.

Leon lets new teachers use his syllabus as long as they are actually teaching with his syllabus.

Make sure you use the correct terms or your syllabus will not be approved.

Leon has shared two Syllabus one with and one without PreAP.  By the way, because of my student backgrounds, I think PreAP is extremely important, and won’t let a kid in AP without it.

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Leon says that time is a huge issue and that is why you should teach PreAP Computer Science.  My issue is that many of my students have not touched computers since 7th grade – last required Computer Course.

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Discussed the fact that students are pushed into the AP track in English and Math in elementary school.  AP Computer Science is one of the few AP Courses that stand alone, and have no path from elementary school.

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Short break

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Time Management

Boy howdy, he’s right on this!

Biggest problem is getting enough material covered before the exam.

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Showing us how to create an executable Jar file

I’m not sure why I want to do this. 

They don’t work with DOS boxes and they don’t work with Applets.  Doesn’t make sense to work with an Applet, and the DOS box thing is the reason I’m not sure I care.  We’re using A+ materials in Dallas, and very few of those labs are not DOS box.

We’re going through the process, and I am STILL not sure why we are doing this.

By the way, I’m not providing his directions but you do have to follow them to the exact sentence.  This is a carriage return that if you don’t provide it, it won’t work.

I think he did it to make a teaching point, not a programming point.

In fact, a lot of today is set for the new teacher.  That’s okay.

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Gridworld

Since I am an experienced teacher, I was sent out to build a Lego robot.

Man, I hate AP Workshops.  Not because of the content, but because of the length.  They are usually 4 1/2 days, from 8:30-4:30 and end around noon on Friday so people can fly out.

I accidently signed up for one that was 5 1/2 days and couldn’t figure out why it seemed so long <smile>

It’s been several years since I’ve been and some major changes – timing is good because AB has been gone for a year.

Actually looking forward to the new knowledge, just not looking forward to sitting in a chair for 4 1/2 days. 

The program just told me to update but I don’t see any new features—anyone know what they might be?