Comments on: How to Create Computer Scientists

By: Teaching with LightBot | Hélène Martin

Teaching with LightBot | Hélène Martin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:31:42 +0000

[...] in sequence to move a robot over certain tiles. I mentioned it a while ago in a post about creating computer scientists but I’ve noticed that though a lot of computer science teachers have seen it and liked it, [...]

By: Impact of Childhood Games | Hélène Martin

Impact of Childhood Games | Hélène Martin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:19:35 +0000

[...] wrote a while ago about some of the non-programming experiences that primed me for interest and success in computer science but I don’t think I went far back enough in my [...]

By: Interesting Links 12 July 2010

Interesting Links 12 July 2010 — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:36:36 +0000

[...] Martin writes about how to create computer scientists. It is a great post that relates a lot from her personal experience. The comments are all worth [...]

By: Hélène Martin

Hélène Martin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:20:51 +0000

You know, you’re absolutely right — these kinds of experiences can fit into my classes. Ideally they’d be in “computer applications” classes but in practice that rarely happens. I’ll try to package it compellingly for this fall. Any specific ideas on how to guide students in the right direction much appreciated!!

By: Finding Colleagues « And Yet It Moves

Finding Colleagues « And Yet It Moves — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:43:27 +0000

[...] about that soon, but one of the key metapoints is summarized by Helene Martin in her recent post, How to Create Computer Scientists: “Most importantly, I was learning how to learn. That’s perhaps one of the most important [...]

By: takingitoutside

takingitoutside — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:37:53 +0000

What about a short module on adapting computers to one’s own needs?

These days computers are necessary for work, but a lot of people never learn the fun basics – like your Pink Screen of Death – that can make that work a lot easier/more interesting. Some of the things that gave me confidence to learning XHTML were just basic tweaks that I figured out on my own. (Examples: changing the default fonts and colours in Word and Outlook; downloading pictures and setting up a desktop background slideshow; playing with screensavers, alert sounds, et cetera)

That sort of thing builds confidence, lets students express themselves and teaches a bit about internal computer structure.

By: Tune Up Your PC » Post Topic » Interesting Links 12 July 2010

Tune Up Your PC » Post Topic » Interesting Links 12 July 2010 — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:18:56 +0000

[...] Martin writes about how to create computer scientists. It is a great post that relates a lot from her personal experience. The comments are all worth [...]

By: Hélène Martin

Hélène Martin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:19:06 +0000

Ahh… Legos strike again. ; )

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:15:18 +0000

Aything else?? Don’t know. I was always really good at math, tinkered extensively with legos as a kid, am good at visualizing and hated it when I couldn’t figure something out. Still am that way. Spent 18 hours a day last year teaching myself cad in 6 weeks. it’s a puzzle thing, ultimately, and then – exposure to the opportunity. Any kid who stands alone while the other run off because they need to investigate further, I would think, along with an ability to (micro) focus for periods of time. I’m trying to “teach” my 5 year old niece with concentration games that require lateral thinking and abstract visualization skills (close your eye and “see” it in your head” as well. She seems to have the aptitude.

By: Hélène Martin

Hélène Martin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:59:47 +0000

Were there other things that might have pre-disposed you to like programming? I’d hate to think that it’s something one is born with or not!! I do agree that it’s about exposure and that today’s kids don’t necessarily have as much incentive to tinker since “there’s an app for that.” That said, I feel we should be able to create these kinds of experiences in the classroom!