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One of the repercussions of the STEM award from last year, was being urged by both the Dallas Foundation poeople and by the TI people to influence more students than my own.  Usually to do that, you have to leave the classroom.  In fact, at least two of the STEM award winners have.  Both have gone into administration.

I’m lucky, I don’t have to go into administration to make that influence.  For the past 10 years at least, I’ve helped write our various district finals, and had a major role in writing curriculum.

This year, I’ve done even more.  I’ve been writing detailed curriculum for our Computer Science I (Visual Basic) class.  I’ve been detailed enough so that another teacher can do exactly what I do.  It’s also detailed enough for someone to teach the course online (hopefully me).

I’ll be writing our district final for the same subject, and probably do part of the staff development for my subject in June.

It feels good.  And I’m really glad I don’t have to give up the daily contact of a class.  That’s the most fun part about teaching.  Even better, once in a while the kids realize it.  I had a couple of kids arguing about it a few days ago.  One kid say — yeah, Mrs. Weaver REALLY likes it here or she wouldn’t be here. VERY nice to hear.

 Was reading:

I am looking over my schedule for summer… and guess what … its FULL! I don’t get summer’s off anymore but I want the world to know how busy summer is while the teachers are gone.

Source: Summer Vacation … not for me. at Snapshots of Technology Integration

So my summer:

I believe I am working on the Curriculum Guide for 2nd semester for Computer Science I (Visual Basic).

I know I am working on the district finals (ACP’s).

I am doing 21 hours of staff development with the district and probably teach 7 of them.

I am going to CSTA Annual Conference on June 28 in San Antonio.

I’m going to a Microsoft sponsored workshop on Alice and Computational Media in July. 

Also going to First Bytes, for two days in Austin at University of Texas.

I will take a one week AP Workshop in August.

The first two should be paying gigs, but we got technology for the first one when I did 1st semester, so that might be that way too.

It’s a lot more traveling than I usually do too.  San Antonio and Austin — I’m flying both of those, and I’m driving to Vegas.  My husband wants to do that and is going too.  We may vacation in San Diego after, depends on who I get to dog sit.

I used the following article to help me figure out — finally — how to get a Java program on a mobile phone.  I’ve done it several times with Visual Basic, but never with Java.

 

Quoted from http://www.codeguru.com/cpp/w-p/ce/networking/article.php/c7911/:

 

CodeGuru: How to Write a Java MIDlet Program for Wireless Cellular Phones and Handheld PDAs Using J2ME

 

How to Write a Java MIDlet Program for Wireless Cellular Phones and Handheld PDAs Using J2ME

 

1.  The first step was already done, I had Java on my computer already.

2.   Install
Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition Wireless Tool Kit.  I did a search on that, and ended up at http://java.sun.com/products/sjwtoolkit/ and I read and followed the article until I got to Downloads, and ended up at http://java.sun.com/products/sjwtoolkit/download.html.  I downloaded the Windows version, since we run Windows XP and installed it per directions.

 

3.  Next, I copied his code into my own file, SampleMidlet.java.   A few of the lines were too long and did not paste right, so I had to fix them.

 

4.  I then ran the Wireless Toolkit as his directions show.

 

5.  Next I copied my SampleMidlet.java into the src file as he indicated.

6.  Then run the Wireless Toolkit again and Build your project (you can leave it open).

 

7.  Then run your project.  You’ll get a phone emulator with your new project on it. 

 

8.  The last step of the CodeGuru’s directions to use, is to build the package. Click on Project, Package, Create Package.

 

Here’s where directions differ, since he is writing about the Palm.  I have a Cingular 8525 (or AT&T 8525), and want to use the Intent Midlet manager.

 

When you build your package, you get two files in your Bin file.  You really only need one, the SampleProject.java file.

 

9.  Get that file onto your phone, anyway you like.  You can either email it as a file attachment, or copy and paste it using ActiveSync. 

 

10.  Find the java file that you just saved on your mobile phone using File Explorer, and double click on it.  MidLet Manager will open and ask if you want to install the midlet. Click on Yes.   Then double click on SampleProject that you just installed, and the program will execute.

Using the DVD that I received from Microsoft on the Cruise Ship, I was able to get a 2d single shooter game working on my PC,

Took me 2 days.

Man, is XNA sweet. It took us a whole semester to do the same work — of course, it is not orginal yet, but I will see what I can get a kid to draw for me.

This week, I’ve had several occasions where the need for classroom discipline has become evident.

The first: Our school has asked a teacher not to come back. Several of the teachers in my part of the school have shared our concerns with his lack of classroom discpline, and the fact that he teachs math very old school and our kids don’t get it that way.

The second: I had a first year Alternative Certification teacher teaching the same subject come and stay with me for a day. She was impressed with both student behavior AND hall behavior. I spend a LOT of energy keeping kids out of my part of the hall, and it definately pays off.

The third: and this is a situation that really has to change. I won’t let my kids participate if it continues this way. We get the whole district together for a Saturday tutoring session, and the students that attend are just flat out rude. As a whole, those students are Magnet students and I suspect that they might even have a smaller class size that I am used to. I know that the teachers have expressed distain for the classroom discipline classes that our district has required us to attend.

FYI: Those are CHAMPS, and oddly enough it’s based on the same system of reinforcement and expectations that I use as a very successful dog trainer. Basically you establish rules of behavoir, establish rewards and consequences. All really good stuff.

And as I told the other teacher–it doesn’t not matter how well you know your subject or can deliver it, if your students are not behaving they can’t learn anything.

Alfred asked:

Computer Science Teacher – Thoughts and Information from Alfred Thompson : Is There A Future For High School Computer Science?

Is There A Future For High School Computer Science?

And I am seeing that there is, but maybe NOT in AP Computer Science. 

I finally got my counts, and I’ve achieved my major goal, once again, when I haven’t in several years.  That goal is to teach CS full time.  Next year, I get to teach 6 sections!  No web, no math.  I am very happy.

Here’s the deal. My regular CS count has tripled, which should make Alfred and Microsoft very happy since that is where I teach VB.

My PreAP count has halved, as has my AP CS A count.  Though I’m not sure how accurate that APCS count is, as at least one student isn’t enrolled in it, who wants to me. My AP CS AB count is 2.  Interesting.

I’m going to work on making the PreAP more motivating and see if that helps.

Quoted from http://blogs.msdn.com/alfredth/archive/2008/04/04/college-board-to-discontinue-the-ap-cs-ab-exam.aspx:

Computer Science Teacher – Thoughts and Information from Alfred Thompson : College Board to discontinue the AP CS AB exam

Well the news hit like a thunderclap in the Advanced Placement Computer Science world today – the College Board has decided to discontinue the AP CS AB exam after next school year.

 

Yes, I was shocked to read the email about the end of AP CS B.  i’ve sat back and just let the fur fly, and what has come out makes sense.  There are two explainations — both related. The first explaination is that it is a purely economic decision. The second, is that few minorities sign up for the test.

Both answers make sense, especially taken together.

As an AP CS teacher at a small urban high school, I am relieved. Because of our own district decisions, having both A and AB tests mean that I have to teach at least three preps, but usually 4. The most number of students I’ve gotten for the AB is 3, and rarely are those students as serious as they need to be. I do have a high passing rate, but the sample size is extremely low.  It’s hard to prep for 3 students when you have 60 taking a different prep.

Next year I’ll have 2 AB students, both of which are capable of passing.  I’m planning on taking a one week staff development that was to focus on the AB (last year, I focused on the A), That’s a lot of staff development for 3 students.

However, I really don’t like the idea of expanding the A so that it meets the requirements of a full year of computer science, which is one of the plans floating about.  Thankfully we have a PreAP number which should help. We can also keep the AP CS II designation, and use that as needed.

All in all, I think it’s a good thing.

However, I wouldn’t be surprised if some corporate sponsors stepped in and financed it.  And they probably should.