Wiki Page, MsFernandezAP-CSP-2016-2017: Lesson: What is Computer Science and An Introduction to ALICE

Wiki Page
2016-07-26T16:10:26-06:00

For this first week, we will start the Computer Science Principles course by trying to define or explain what Computer Science is and also give an explanation or description about Alice, a program that will use for this course. Alice is a computer program that is used for teaching students computer programming in a 3-D environment.

You will learn computer programming concepts and create instructions for the computer to create animated stories or video games.

Vocabulary

Automate - To make something happen automatically (without help from people). | Interface - The way something allows you to connect with it
Computer Science - The art of blending human ideas and digital tools to increase problem solving power. | Open Source - Software that is created for free use by everyone.
Computer Scientist - A person who is skilled at modifying problems for digital solutions. | Programming - Writing instructions for a digital tool.
Data - Information, including: facts, samples, names and numbers. | Simulation - Pretending to be (a stand-in for) the real thing.
Environment - The world we live in. |

What is Computer Science?

Code.org defines Computer Science as: "The art of blending human ideas and digital tools to increase problem solving power." Computer Science is about being creative and using computing tools to solve problems. These problems can be personal, societal or global.

Video Code.org

Video Explaining Computer Science From Code.org

For the Sweetwater Union High School District students, please click on the following link and log in with your student ID and password to view the video

Safari Link to Video: "What is Computer Science"? from Code.org

Computer programming allows us to be incredibly expressive. We can use an infinite number of combinations of words, images, and ideas to produce a functional and useful product that can entertain and inform the masses.

The art of Computer Science starts with a problem that needs to be solved."

Computer Science is about finding solutions to problem, then learning to give the computer instructions so that it can perform a specific task that will solve the problem.

What is Computational Thinking?

Video Google Computer Science Education

Video for Computational Thinking at Google

For the Sweetwater Union High School District students, please click on the following link and log in with your student ID and password to view the video

Safari Link to Video: "Computational Thinking at Google"

Computational Thinking as defined by the web site "Computer Science for Fun" defines it as:

"a collection of diverse skills to do with problem solving that result from studying the nature of computation. It includes some obviously important skills that most subjects help develop, like creativity, ability to explain and team work. It also consists of some very specific problem solving skills such as the ability to think logically, algorithmically and recursively. It is also about understanding people. Computer Science is unique in the way it brings all these diverse skills together."

Computational Thinking means you learn a set of skills that teaches you to think to solve problems with computing tools. For you to learn how to think computationally, you have to think:

logically.

analytically.

algorithmically.

What is Programming?

Programming is one of the creative processes that can transform ideas into reality. Programming is writing a set of instructions for the computer so that it understands what humans want it to do. A program is the set of the instructions that can be understood and followed by a computer.

What is Alice?

Alice is a computer program that is used for teaching students computer programming in a 3-D environment. It is also described as a programming platform.

You will learn computer programming concepts and create instructions for the computer to create animated stories or video games.

What are the Basics of Computer Programming?

The Basics of Computer Programming.pdf

Alice: A computer program used for teaching students computer programming in a 3-D environment.

Alice Appendix A: A tutorial on getting started with Alice

Essentials of ALICE Tutorial

We will be learning a lot of new things this week!