Embedding Internet Safety to Blog practice

Today we are going to try and embed your video(s) in your blog.  The first thing that you will need to do is make sure your video is loaded into your class/hour group on GoAnimate!  Once that has been taken care of I can then copy and send you (through email) the embed code that you will need to post to your blog (some of you might notice that you have already been sent the email).

Additionally, when you receive the email that contains the embed code from me you will need to forward that to your partner since they will also need to embed your video(s) on their blog.

To complete the Internet Safety project you will need to embed your video(s) on your blog.  If you have only one video you will embed it in one blog post - if you have more than one video you will have to embed each video in a different blogpost.  Once you have embedded all of your videos you will need to send me an email that contains the names of you and your partner(s), as well as a link to your blog and your partners blog.  Here is what I would do if I were Jimmy Fallon:

Mr. Pardoe:

Here are the links to our groups blogs for the Internet Safety project:

Jimmy Fallon - tonightshow.blogspot.com
Tina Fey - funnylady.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Jimmy Fallon
Tonight Show host

After completing this, what I want you to do is choose a practice website to go to and practice.  Use your speed skin while you are practicing.

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How To Increase PC Speed

There are many ways you can increase the performance and make your computer runs faster. I used to come across a website which has around 100 ways to make a computer runs faster. Here’re 2 of the best programs I’ve found that is able to increase the speed of your website:

1. PC Speed Doctor
2. Overclock Your CPU

Instead of going through each of them, I’m going to share only the best ways to speed up computer. These methods are very easy to do and you can see a big difference after you have applied them.

Most of these methods can be categorized into: Looking Ugly, Cleaning Up and Overclocking. Looking ugly are techniques that reduces the visual effect of your windows. Instead of looking nice and cool, these techniques remove these effects and make your computer runs faster. Cleaning up is about removing files and programs that are slowing down your pc. Last but not least, overclocking is like hacking your own hardware such as processor and graphic cards to make them run faster.

You can start with the following tips!

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Learning to create a bulleted and numbered list FA7

Today I am going to show you how you can use Word to create a bulleted list and a numbered list.  Usually, a numbered list is created to show rank (such as your favorite athlete, second favorite athlete, and so on) while a bulleted list is used to show a list that has no rank (a shopping list would be an example).  These are fairly easy to create, modify, and format so Ill show you how you can do that today before starting on your next Formatting Activity.

Again, I want to remind those of you who have vocabulary words to define to get those completed as soon as you can.  If you want to come in here before school or during lunch recess to do that you are welcome - just let me know.


Activity 7.pdf

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How To Increase Speed Of PC In 5 Minutes

If you want your PC to work faster right now, here’re 5 simple steps you can do to increase the performance of your PC. By applying these steps, your computer can start running faster right now:

Step 1: Remove visual effects

This is a step where you could remove all the fancy effects that make your windows look nice. These effects include fading, shadows and other animations. This step is similar to Windows XP, Vista and 7. The steps are:

Go to your Desktop
Right click "My Computer"
Left click "Properties"
Click on the "Advanced" tab
Under "Performance", click on "Settings"
Under the "Visual Effects" tab, click on "Adjust for best performance"
Click "Apply" and you’re done.


Now, you lose the fancy visual effects but your computer is able to run much faster. By removing all these effects, you will see a significant increase in speed.

Step 2: Use disk cleaner

Disk Cleaner is a free tool provided with Microsoft Windows. It is able to help you clear up to 2GB to 3 GB on your hard disk and speed it up.

"What does deleting temporary files have to do with speed up your computer?" you may ask.

Imagine you have a very messy room full of stuffs, do you think finding something that you want takes time. That is the same to every computer as well. When your computer helps you to store temporary files, they are basically stored in an unorganized way and mixed with important stuffs.

By throwing 10% of the garbage in your messy room, you can find the things you want much faster. That is the same for your computer as well. These are the steps to clean up your PC:

Click on the "Start Menu"
Select "All Programs"
Select "Accessories"
Select "System Tools"
Click on "Disk Cleanup"
Choose your drive that you want to clean (Hard Disk, normally C Drive)

Once you click on "Disk cleanup", the program will start calculating how much space you could free from cleaning some old stuffs. After few minutes of calculating, you will be able to see a list of stuffs you can delete. Check those that are unimportant and delete.

Step 3: Change display settings 

This is very similar to visual effects. Instead of using fancy and colorful backgrounds that waste lots of time and PC power to load, remove them to the basic will speed up your computer. The steps are:

Right click your "Desktop"
Left click "Properties"
Under "Themes" tab, click on the drop down menu and choose "Windows Classic"
Under "Desktop" tab, choose "None" for background.
Under "Appearance" tab, click on the drop down menu below "Windows and buttons".  Choose Windows Classic Style.
Under "Appearance" tab again, click on "Effects…" button, try to uncheck all of them and click "Ok".
Under "Settings" tab, click on the drop down menu below "Color Quality" and choose "16 Bit".
Finally, click on "Apply" and you’re done.

Step 4: Clear hidden Windows errors 

Around 90% of SLOW computers are cause by hidden Windows error. That’s one of the main reasons why your computer starts to slow down after using it for months. Unfortunately, cleaning this error manually is simply too technical. To clean these errors effectively, you can use the help with a program automatically called PC Speed Doctor.

Step 5: Overclocking

Overclocking is a nasty way of improving the performance of your hardware. I don’t recommend you this step if you are using a new PC. This technique is able to boost the performance of your processor and force your computer to run faster. On the other hand, it will generate more heat. Overclocking is quite technical as well. I highly recommend you to learn from an ebook called Overclock Your CPU. The author is able to increase the performance of a processor from 1.9GHz to 3.5Ghz and has helped many people to do so.

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Five Things YOU Can Do To Help Computer Science Education

This week Time magazine ran an article: Can We Fix Computer Science Education in America? You should go read it. No problem, Ill wait.

The tech industry is one of the few bright spots in a dim economy. So why arent we teaching kids the skills they need to participate in it?

Indeed.

The good news is there are a lot of folks out there working on this.

 

  There are of course there are programs like Exploring Computer Science and the new CS Principles pilot that offer curriculum and training for teachers trying to build computer science in our schools.

But the real question is what are YOU doing? This issue impacts all of us. It is not OK to just sit there hoping someone else is plugging away at this. Seriously, Cameron Wilsons great, but hes pretty busy already.Five things you should do NOW to help computer science education:

1. Get every kid you know under the age of 10 hooked on Scratch or Alice or even QBasic. Let them play, and ask questions, and show off what they make.

1. Ask if computer science is in your local schools - then ask why not. Oh, and dont just ask about your school...ask about that other one, down the block. The urban/rural/under-served school. Those kids need this too.

1. Stop blaming guidance counselors and administrators and every other bogey man out there. No one likes whiners, and those folks are busy worrying about dropout rates and intruder drills and grumpy parents. Give them something to value in computer science. Positive energy breeds long term success. Make the Computer Science program something they can brag about.

1. Go to a CSTA meeting. No local chapter? Start one - its super easy. 

1. Select one:

• If you are in Virginia - comment on the new technology SOLs. Not sure what to say? Hows this: Computer Science is the discipline underlying all innovation, especially in the STEM fields. Our students need to move beyond just working on learning computer applications to learning the computer science topics that will build their success in school and future careers. Computer Science should be included in the Computer Technology SOLs.

• Dont live in Virginia? First, yes our standardized tests are called SOLs. No, that is not a joke. Second - find your state standards. Is computer science in there? Just figuring out where you state stands is a great first step.

So my question for you - what are YOU doing?

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Continue to learn numbers reminders

Today we will learn the 9 (R3), the 4 (L1), and the 0 (R4).

Just a couple of quick reminders...remember that you have a crossword puzzle that is due on Friday.  You can turn that in anytime between now and then - please make sure to put your name at the top.
Also, we do have a vocab quiz next week (over list #6).  If you are responsible for defining words this week is a great time to get that completed as you probably have very little homework with ISAT testing going on.  Again, all definitions will need to be posted by Tuesday night of next week.

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5 parts to correct email first assignment

Anytime you are required to send an email in this class you will need to make sure that you include the 5 parts to a correct email.  That will almost always be a part of your grade.  They are listed here:

1. Email address
1. Username (what comes before the @ symbol)
2. the @ symbol
3. email server (gmail or yahoo, for example)
4. the period
5. the top level domain (.com, .net, .org)
2. Subject line
1. explains to the reader of the email what the email is about
2. not typed in all caps
3. Greeting
1. include the name of the person you are sending the email to
2. depending on your relationship with the individual, it may be "Dear Mrs. Smith" or you might enter "James"
4. Body
1. Write in complete sentences
2. if you want your email to be professional (and it needs to be in here!), avoid texting language (LOL, OMG, B4, etc.)
3. spell check!!
5. Signature
1. create a signature using features in Google (done!)
2. eliminates having to remember to type your name at the bottom

The name of the assignment is "10 facts about me".  You will need to send this to me by Friday (this is a homework assignment - you will not be allowed to complete this during class).  However, the 10 facts are going to be a little unique - heres an example of what you would need to include:

1 - I have 1 sister
2 - I have golfed at the John Deere TPC twice
3 - I went to 3 River Bandit games this summer
4 - 4 is my favorite number
5 - I have been to a Chicago Bears game 5 times
6 - I started playing the piano at age 6
7 - The house number at the address where I live is 723
8 - I have been to Lake of the Ozarks 8 times
9 - The zip code of the town I grew up in is 80759
10 - One of the cars I own is a 2010 Toyota Highlander

When you email me make sure that you include the 5 correct parts to an email.  Due Friday means that it is due by midnight on Friday night (when you send an email to me I will be able to tell when it was sent) - so you can work on this after school tomorrow but your best bet will be to complete this tonight.

The last part of class will be reviewing what we learned Tuesday, and then learning the O (R3).

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Using Music to Teach Programming

So, what does Paul Simon have to do with array processing?

Glad you asked.

You Can Call Me Al Video

As anyone that has tried to teach arrays can tell you they can be a bit dry. Sadly, the best way to really understand anything in programming is to practice. One of the best workarounds I have found is storing music in arrays. My AP kids never really got into the classic drunkards walk program, but make it a random set of notes on a kazoo and tuba and they were all over it. Music lets them play, which means more practice.

This is fairly simple to do. Each note is a number, or an object, depending on the language. I have done this in Scratch, Visual Basic and Java with the kids. Scratch music is built right in, in VB we use the Beep command, and in Java I use the JMusic tools.

And what, you might be asking, does this have anything to do with You can Call Me Al?

If you listen ahead to about 3:30, there is a bass solo. A Palindromic bass solo. The first part was recorded by Bakithi Kumalo, then played backwards for the second half

The lesson:

• Play the video - ask them if they notice anything about the bass solo - you might need to play it a few times, and it helps if you have some band kids in the room.
• Make sure everyone understands palindromes
• Code a tune - store your notes in an array.
• Create a new array that will store the original tune, then store it backwards.
• So if your original tune was:  A B B D E the new array would store A B B D E E D B B A
• Demo the songs to the class.

Bassists Abraham Laboriel from Mexico and Bakithi Kumalo from South Africa

Another extension here is to watch the video of U-Bassists Abraham Laboriel and Bakithi Kumalo jamming in 2012. What happens if a musician makes a mistake on stage?

I am planning on using this as a journal prompt this year. One of the hardest things for new programmers happens around mistakes. Sadly this is a by product of much of the rest of their education. They are trained to find the right answer.  In computer science we care most about the correct solution, and that is usually going to take several tries. Sometimes the mistake points the way to a better solution. My goal is to get them to embrace their mistakes.

• Making Music with Java - by Andrew Brown
• More info on jMusic you can download it here: http://explodingart.com/jmusic/GetjMusic.html
• Bakithi Kumalo Video playing the solo - on a fretless bass! Starts at min 2:20. While you are at it look at his hat - so want one.
• And if you are really in the mood for more bass:  U-Bassists Abraham Laboriel and Bakithi Kumalo jamming in 2012

Curious if anyone is using music in any other languages - if so, please share. 

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Keys to the Web

Keys to the Web

we used these back when we did the Internet Unplugged unit back in the fall.

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Invitation to connect on LinkedIn

From Rebecca Dovi President at CSTA - Central VA Richmond, Virginia Area Id like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - Rebecca Confirm that you know Rebecca You are receiving Invitation to Connect emails. Unsubscribe © 2012, LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct. Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

OK - this is really cracking me up. I accidentally hit THAT button in LinkedIn a few weeks back. Many of you know this since you have suffered the spam it has generated. Apparently it also asked my blog to join my network.

To be honest I am not sure what LinkedIn does besides spam a lot of very nice people. A lot. Sorry if you were one of them. Please feel free to explain it to me, school is about to start and my brain is on overload and I could be missing something amazing.

Reason number 15 why neglecting your blog for three weeks is a bad idea...it starts joining social networks due to loneliness.

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Why not to print more money by Government

SCENARIO 1:


Many of them asking why not print more money to solve debt problem?

SOLUTION:


Consider we have debt around 100 cr. to china,america,etc.,Now we print 100cr and solved debt problem.Now we are happy that we are free from debt from other countries.ok sounds happy.....
Now consider a product that avail only in america they are asking 100cr.As you wish now india can print 100cr money but other side other country can also print money,now they can also provide 100cr to that product.Now what america will do they increase product rate 200cr now also india can print and china also can print money..so there is no end to solve the problem.......what will america keep on increase the price of product and india and china keep on print the money until print paper avail........sounds crazy isnt........This is not right way to lead a world economy.........so this will rise money inflation and world economic war...........

SCENARIO 2


Now consider indian government planned to give 1cr to each people in india,what will happen?

SOLUTION:


Now consider there is only 1 book avail in bookshop.The cost book is 10000.person arun having 1cr and hari also having 1cr.now they both are demanding that book.Both of them have money to buy that book.But only one book avail,so the shopkeeper will rise the book price to 20000.Now also they can buy that book,Since they have 1cr in their hand.So the price of book keep on increasing like 1.1cr...now who have extra money, they only can buy that book.So there is no use of providing 1cr to each people,Though both of them having 1cr,but one person only can buy that book......now tell guys is there any use of providing 1cr to each people ....it also lead inflation and economic war.........

NOTE:if everyone having money means who will do agricultural works,then where we can get food.........think guys....thats why government not printing more moneyy............

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Top 20 Ways to Learn Computer Science Online

Ive been trying to keep up with all of the new ways to learn to code online - the first list is here. The new APCS Principles course has a lot of elements that move beyond teaching computer science as a coding class, including teaching about the Internet and using data. It is getting hard to keep up.

Modest Maps

A few top 20 lists:

• Top 20 Online training sites for Web Design 
• Top 20 Data Visualization Tools
• Top 20 Coding Online Tools

And for a little numerical diversity:

• Top 10 Sites for Free Education with Elite Universities

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How to Choose a Good Computer

Keyboard computer is a very important part of the system. It allows you to communicate with the computer. In the absence of a computer keyboard, computer, even with the best configuration is also equivalent to a useless piece of metal.

If you use the computer for everyday normal word processor or email reading, then keyboard is sufficient and it is advisable to obtain the cheapest around. However, if you use it for gambling but when you spend hours to beat on this subject, it is worthwhile to spend a little time and effort to finding the best keyboard around.

Most keyboards use PS2 connection. Some of the latest model uses USB 2.0. Even if it does not make much difference, using a keyboard PS2 can release your USB2.0 slot for other devices. If you always go around your keyboard, then the wireless keyboard might be appropriate for you.

Keyboards computers come in various shapes and sizes. Choose the one that best suits your needs. Keys was ergonomically designed to bring comfort to the user. They come with the natural alignment wrist rest for your wrist in a more comfortable position. If you are a computer user, you can consider making an ergonomic keyboard.

For Thursday Indeed, it is advisable to get a game pad. That observation is the in-game control buttons and programming. A good game such as the keyboard Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard gives you much control over the execution of games. It has 18 keys keyboard programming and also comes with an LCD screen to give you a clearer idea of the game information.

Zboard Gaming Keyboard is also another good Gaming Keyboard comes with an additional set keys to the first person shooting and action games. The different function keys can also be used to program different commands in a button. Its ease of use allows players to get used to it in a very short time.

Frequent multimedia user can also benefit from different types of multimedia keyboard available on the market. These keyboards have extra shortcut keys to give you full control of your favorite media player or video. Logitech Media Keyboard is a set of multimedia shortcut keys that gives you convenient access to all your favorite player. I am quite surprised that a keyboard with such functions is as cheap as a simple keyboard.

The choice of a computer keyboard is actually a very fun thing. Take your time to review the various keyboards and youll be able to find the most appropriate for you in no time.

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How to Teach the Internet Dont

Today my Computer Science Principles classes are starting Unit 2: The Internet Unplugged.

So rather than a terrible exciting lecture on the structure of the Internet - translation "Heres what I think you should care about" - we started with questions.

Telegraph Lines

They were asked to write their own definition of the Internet, and share at least three questions they have about it.

Really, we all use it daily, so we should all have our own working understanding of what it is. By starting with their understanding I can see where we need to add information and what the emphasis should be.

The questions help me plan our activities. By the end of the chapter I want them to understand that the Internet is a physical thing, and be able to describe how it works. I want them understanding how content is posted and to discuss the implications ethically of its content. I want them to know a little HTML and CSS and have the confidence to look up what they need.

But first, I want them thinking.

Questions they asked:

• How is it possible that the internet can be censored in some countries?
• Who owns the internet?
• Who made the internet?
• How does it actually work?
• Why was it originally created?
• When did personal computers have access to it?
• Who owns data on the internet?
• Why is internet copyright so important?
• How hard is it to break the internet?

Right now some of my favorites are Who owns the internet? and  How is it possible that the internet can be censored in some countries? 

Frankly we could start by investigating those two things and cover everything we need to know.

Bookshelf:

• Tubes by Andrew Blum
• Story of how theInternet is constructed - I summarized it here
• As We May Think by Dr. Vannevar Bush
• Originally published in 1945 this is the first description of linked text - "Thus he builds a trail of his interest through the maze of materials available to him." Really, read section 7 if you are short on time.
• Blown to Bits by Hal Abelson (also available free here)
• Good reading for students, especially the appendix
• Stuck in the Shallow End by Jane Margolis
• Also read this by Jane - great food for thought in this era of "tech fixes everything"

Some Lessons Well do:

• Cups and Strings
• Mapping the Internet
• Underwater Cables
• Why do HTML

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To Make a Program you Have to Break Some Eggs

One of my favorite toys in computer science are plastic eggs. Cheap and they can be used to teach so many things. We are working on searches and sorts in the APCS class right now. They also work well when doing algorithms in the CS Principles class.

To start with searches and sorts I use plastic eggs filled with fish tank gravel. Email your faculty and parents - I guarantee you can get these for free. Fill the eggs with varying amount of gravel and tape them shut. Better yet have a kid do this. You are busy.

I let the kids pick a partner and each pair gets 6 or 7 eggs. Please do not forget to explain that the eggs do not have candy in them. I didnt do that the first time we did this and it made for a very disappointing mess.

Have them put the eggs in a row then "search" for the heaviest egg. Write out the steps you followed.

On the board I then do:

int eggs[] = new int[6];

This is in the APCS class, in CS Principles I make this less formal since they will be doing this in Scratch.

I have the kids come to the board and write out their algorithm, in Java in the APCS, pseudocode in CS Pricniples, using this array. Bam! They just all created a Linear Search.

So, why eggs?

I used to do this writing numbers on the board. They watched and I did. It is always better when THEY do. They are going to remember the Linear Search much better if it was their idea in the first place. 

Also, when you do numbers the amazing processor that is the human brain can just scan the list and pick the biggest. No problem. 

But a computer cannot do that - it cannot just look at a data set in aggregate and pick one. It must "touch" every piece of data in the set and make a comparison. Which is exactly what the kids do with the eggs. Point that out, they should know that.

This is also a good time to go over swapping. They get so confused on this.

How many times have you had them try to swap two numbers and they do:

a = b;

b = a;

Here is the fix: Hand each group some cups - make it look like you are giving them an arbitrary number, but make sure they all get at least 3.

Rule - you can only have an egg in a cup. NEVER can you have two eggs in a  cup. Now swap two eggs.

Again, once they get the point of using a third cup, you have them write out the algorithm in the language of your choice.

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Binary Flippy Do How To

Today in AP Computer Science Principles we made the Analog Binary Calculator. We have been working up towards binary. I do not start them with the big explanation of This Is Binary.

Instead I do a series of puzzles as warm ups and exit tickets for the week or so before the actual lesson. That way by the time we get to full scale binary they have had some positive experiences and built their own understanding of how binary works.

(Why do I even do Binary? Here you go)

So for example I show them a picture of two light switches and point out they can either be on or off. Working with a partner they have to figure out how many numbers they can store using the light switches. What if we add a third switch, how many then? Without listing all the combinations can you predict how many numbers you could represent with 4 switches? This makes a great warm up activity.

The great thing about the flippy do is it is super easy to translate numbers back and forth. My stronger math kids pick up the number theory behind it quickly, while my weaker math students are successful so they will stick with it rather than tuning out.

If you also cover the full twos comp representation it is also an incredibly easy way to teach the steps.

Materials:

• Index cards - 4x6 or larger
• Markers
• Scissors 
• Rulers - helpful, but not necessary

Steps:

First you fold up the bottom 1/4, draw 8 columns, and cut the bottom flippy things like this:

Can you tell this is my white board?

Second, you label the powers of two. Then put 1s on the back of the flaps and zeros underneath as shown:

Then I have them do a few puzzles:

• How may ways can you represent 13? 3? 15?
• Count from 0 to 13. Any pattern with even/odd numbers?
• What is the largest number this can store?
• What is 01111111? 00111111? 00011111? - what is the pattern here?

The point here is, if I just tell them that there is only one way to make any base ten number in binary it goes in one ear and out the other. Snore.

If instead they are doing a puzzle, and after a few realize THEMSELVES that there is only one combo per number, they internalize that at a different level. They dont forget it.

After all this we do the algorithm to change from binary to base ten and back. The best part is when the kid in the back, the one that hates math, tells their neighbor "Hey, I actually get this".

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Back to School

So Tuesday we start off the new school year. My classes are full to bursting this year - which is kind of exciting. We are even having to add extra computers to fit every one.

One of the things I did for the online Algebra class I taught this summer was a discussion board entry where students introduced themselves to the class. Since the course is online it is easy to feel disconnected from everyone. This year I am starting off each of my computer science classes with a similar intro.

Since we do lots of groups/partner work I figure it cant hurt to know a little more about the folks around you. Plus, I think we all make the assumption as teachers that the kids all know each other. That assumption can make someone feel pretty alone in a crowd. I start off by answering the questions myself, just to set the tone.

For the CS Principles class well start next week on how to do effective discussion board postings.



Discussion Board Topic:

Introduce yourself to everyone.

Make sure to tell us:

1. I am in the __ grade
2. The favorite thing I ever learned in a class is ...
3. I am excited about taking computer science because...
4. The biggest question I have about this class is...
5. One thing people would be surprised to know about me is...

To get credit for this assignment you must answer all of the questions, and ask a question of one other student. Make sure to answer any questions folks ask you.

Do you do anything similar?

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Yahoo lost passwords to accounts

Yahoo , company at that about everyone has email , succeeded to leave on hand hackers passwords over 450.00 accounts . All are advised to change their passw
ord . Below is the official statement of the from Yahoo .
“We are currently investigating the claims of a compromise of Yahoo! user IDs. [We encourage users to] change their passwords on a regular basis.” – Yahoo Spokesperson”

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What it Takes to Make a Computer Science Teacher

Ive had this conversation 5 or 6 times over the last few months. Always with teachers, always centered around respect.

And mostly about computer science education.

So Im going to go ahead and put this in writing. A good teacher can teach computer science. Not every computer scientist can teach.

Im not just pulling this from thin air. For the last 5 years Ive been deeply embedded in the process of training new computer science teachers. I ran a program of 30 new AP Computer Science programs across Virginia. Some teachers had programmed, some had not.

I also have a decade of experience running extracurricular programs in computer science. Weve had some wonderful and knowledgeable volunteers.

I trained math and history teachers, business teachers, turfgrass teachers. And yes, turfgrasses a real subject.

So what does it take to make a good computer science teacher?

First and foremost is command of the classroom. Someone who can get kids engaged in great learning activities. Teaching is an art, one that has to be developed just like any other skill set.

But we cant stop there. Too many teachers have been thrown into computer science class rooms without the base knowledge they need in order to teach the subject.

This sets the teacher and students up for frustration and ultimately, failure. Its not that experienced teacher cant do computer science, its that they dont know computer science.

Computer science is the only high school subject I know of where we take people who have never even taken a class in the subject and say to you gotta go teach this. Can you imagine a calculus or physics, or art teacher that had never taken the subject at college?

And in an era where are professional evaluations are very closely tied to student test scores, its a wonder anybody would take that risk.

So what does it take to be a good computer science teacher?

The bottom line is content. With a good classroom teacher and solid curriculum you create a situation where a teacher can succeed, which is the base of all student success.

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Welcome to 2014 15 school year!

Today we are going to start with learning the keyboard and how to key correctly.  You should know that you will be learning the touch typing method - that means that you will be learning to key without looking at the keyboard.  That is why we use the speed skins - they are to be on your keyboard at all times throughout the entire semester.

The biggest factor in learning to key successfully is learning, and using, the correct technique (we will cover what you need to do correctly in terms of technique today in class).  Most people want to type fast right away - I think thats human nature, but it just doesnt work that way.  Being able to type efficiently and at a fast pace takes a bunch of practice, but you have to use the correct technique.

Our concentration as we begin to learn the keyboard will be on technique - speed will come later.  It is important that you concentrate on doing things right first, and usually that means at a slow pace as you begin, rather than worry about your speed.

That being said, as we move through the semester those who concentrate hard on using the correct techniques (and dont worry about speed) now and will have a much easier time later in the semester.  Those whose technique is poor, or those who do not use the correct techniques now will struggle later in the semester when we are moving at a much faster.

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