UPDATE-01 (11/29/14): Originally posted 12/14/13, what follows is a description of what we did for CS ED Week, aka The Hour Of Code, aka Admiral Grace Murray Hopper Day, aka Lady Ada Lovelace's Birthday last year. This year we are doing much the same thing. Our goal here is twofold. (1) Promote Computer Science Education in general. (2) Recruit more students for the APCS class next year!
UPDATE-02 (12/1/14): Last year was based on this Hour Of Code Tutorial from codehs.com. This year I'd like to try this or this tutorial from code.org. I'm having a problem with the new tutorials. They load fine at home, but take forever to load in school. So, I'm downloading the whole thing to run locally on each of my student PCs! I used the following commandline to download the webste recursively,
UPDATE-03 (12/5/14): I'm not getting very far with code.org as yet. I'd like to do the code.org tutorials with my AP classes as they saw the codehs.com tutorials last year. Also, code.org has an Angry Birds tutorial and and a Disney's Frozen tutorial. So, I can do one in the morning with AP Calculus and the other in the afternoon with AP Computer Science as I have some of the same students in each. For students who have not done The Hour of Code with me, codehs.com's Karel the Dog is an easier intro. Codehs.com has two new tutorials. One is on mySQL and Harry Potter which is a little dry. The other is on making graphics with JavaScript which is a little challenging. I also like the code.org tutorials because they feature experts in the video tutorials like Bill Gates and Mark Zukerburg teaching about if/then/else branches and repeat/until loops! Here's some videos from code.org:
Admiral Grace Murray Hopper is one of my personal idols! Not only did she usher in the entire industry of Software Engineering but she single handedly invented Computer Programming Languages and Compilers! She was a Math Professor, a Naval Officer, the developer of COBOL and an all around class act!
Grace Hopper's birthday was Monday 12/9. To honor her memory, I registered all my classes for an Hour Of Code. Maybe you'd like to participate as well? The Hour Of Code is about exposing as many students as possible to Computer Science in all disciplines. I'm making this presentation during course selection week as well to encourage students to take Computer Science at my High School! Due to budget cuts, teacher layoffs, large class sizes and canceled electives, I'm recommending Honors 9th Graders take AP Computer Science next year. I used to recommend an intro course, but I can't anymore....
CSEDWEEK was an unprecedented international effort. Over 15,000,000 students at more than 30,000 locations (mostly schools) in nearly 200 countries were registered to participate sometime during last week and wrote more than 500,000,000 lines of code!
I teach Computer Science and see it as a great tool in all disciplines. It's a shame that more students don't take Computer Science in High School. Taking Computer Science can lead to a great major in college and a great profession! I also use Computer Science in all my Math and Science courses in High School and College!
I've been teaching people how to code since 1975. I've also been teaching AP Computer Science at the High School level since 1984. Finally, I've been teaching computing at the College level since 1993. Needless to say, I'm a vehement advocate for a strong Computer Science Education in particular and a challenging STEM curriculum in general for every High School student. In fact, every single class I teach, every single day of the week, is devoted to some aspect of STEM! STEM stands for "Science, Technology, Engineering and Math." Actually, I try to incorporate STEAM into my classroom: "Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math." By Arts I do mean Art (fractals, 3D graphics, animation) but I also try to tie in plenty of History, Literature and Culture.
Mine is one of the few High Schools in the USA to offer a Computer Science curriculum! CS50 at Harvard, see playlist above, covers a lot of the same material we cover here at Baldwin Senior High in my AP Computer Science class. They use Scratch, C, php and JavaScript whereas we use Python, SAGE, MPI and Java, but the concepts are the same! Sadly, the United States is falling far behind other countries in training professionals for jobs in the 21st Century that will require this skill more and more! So, in answer to this growing demand, here's what I teach (in addition to Math and Science): Intro to Computer Science (python):
HOUR OF CODE Instructions for Monday's tutorial: (1) Each student should go to http://codehs.com/hourofcode (2) Sign up for CodeHS using this code: F2B9 (3) Start learning! You will be completing a tutorial on programming for beginners. Fun will be had by all! Course Selection Week DropBox! Well, that's all folks.
Yeah, Quarter I is done! We finally finished Conic Sections using the Completing The Square algorithm to get Standard Forms for Parabolas, Ellipses and Hyperbolera! For those graphs that we could not use the Completing The Square algorithm, we used SAGE and polar_plot(). We also talked about parametrically defined trajectories and SAGE's parametric_plot().
YOUTUBE WEDNESDAYS:
Since we're doing Conic Sections and Planet Orbits in preCalculus, it's time for our Astronomy related YouTubes! We started by talking about really big and really small numbers and metric prefixes.
Week9: NEW Powers of Ten.
Week10: Original Powers of Ten.
Math 4R: preCalculus + SAGECELL SCREENCASTS: YouTube descriptions include links to code and notes if you need them.
Teaching Math 4R:
Chapter 10
Quarter I Weeks 7&8 Conics!
10/13/14-10/24/14
We finished the Matrix unit (CH11) with nonLinear Systems and Linear Programming. Then we started Conic Sections (CH10). In fact, we're having a quiz right now, as I type, on the Standard Form Equations for Parabloas, Ellipses and Hyperbolera! We are focusing on conics with horizontal or vertical symmetry right now. Next week, we'll deal with what I call Twisted Conics using Polar Mode. Then, the following week, we'll revisit the concept of foci and do some real world problem solving!
YOUTUBE WEDNESDAYS:
If it's October, it's gotta be Admiral Grace Murray Hopper!
Week8: Walter Isaacson on CBS Sunday Morning (from my DVDR).
Math 4R: preCalculus + SAGECELL SCREENCASTS: YouTube descriptions include links to code and notes if you need them.
Teaching Math 4R:
Chapter 11
Quarter I Weeks 5&6 Matices!
9/29/14-10/10/14
During these past 2 weeks, we started solving 2D and 3D Systems using Matrix Arithmetic and Matrix Algebra! In fact, we are having a quiz this week using Cramer's Rule of Determinants as well as Matrix Inverses to solve these systems. I make a point of doing 2D problems totally by hand (no calculator or CAS). We are doing 3D systems on SAGE!
YOUTUBE WEDNESDAYS:
If it's October, it's gotta be Admiral Grace Murray Hopper!
Math 4R: preCalculus + SAGECELL SCREENCASTS: YouTube descriptions include links to code and notes if you need them.
Teaching Math 4R:
Chapter 11
Quarter I Weeks 3&4 Systems!
9/15/14-9/26/14
OK, let me go back to my weekly or biweekly summaries. The day by day summary is too time consuming to write and I think too tedious to read! So, this will be a 2 week
summary as this past week was quite short
(Thursday and Friday was Rosh Hashanah).
We finished Chapter 12 on Sequences and Series with the Binomial Expansion Theorem. Then we started Chapter 11 on solving 2D and 3D Systems of Equations. Next week, this will lead to the development of Matrix Arithmetic and Matrix Algebra. We will even get into some Linear Programming! I hope you are getting a lot out of our ScreenCasts (see below) which include SageCell WorkSheets in the YouTube Descriptions.
We also celebrated "The Great TI 84+ UnBoxing of 2014!" We unboxed and distributed 24 out of the 48 84s that were donated to our class. I'm still waiting on some calculator rental forms to give out the remaining 24 GCs. BTW, these are not really rental forms as no one pays a dime until the end of the year if the GC is lost or damaged (like a book card really). So, over the past several years we've upgraded our emulators from Ziggie (VTI-83 and TILEM-83) to Frodo (WABBIT-84) to SAGE!
Math 4R: preCalculus + SAGECELL SCREENCASTS: YouTube descriptions include links to code and notes if you need them.
Teaching Math 4R:
Chapter 12
Quarter I Week 2 Sequences and Series!
9/8/14-9/12/14
MONDAY: Lesson 1201A Recursion Now we redo 1201 by looking at sequences and series defined recursively. TUESDAY: Lesson 1202 Arithmetic Seqs Today we talked about adding finite arithmetic sequences. WEDNESDAY: Lesson 1203 Geometric Seqs Then we derived a formula for summing finite and infinite geometric sequences. BTW, if it's September, YouTube Wednesday must include Tom Lehrer's New Math! THURSDAY: Lesson 1204 Induction Proofs Finally, used Peano's Postulates to prove sums by induction! FRIDAY: Lesson 1204 Induction Practice We went over the homework as a review for a QUiz on Monday. Math 4R: preCalculus + SAGECELL SCREENCASTS: YouTube descriptions include links to code and notes if you need them.
Teaching Math 4R:
Chapter 12
Quarter I Week 1 First Week Back!
9/1/14-9/5/14
I don't usually do a day by day rundown of the week, but here goes nothing! MONDAY: Labor Day (nothing to report) TUESDAY: Superintendent's Conferences where we spent all day in meetings except for the last 2 hours of the day when we finally got to set up our rooms. I spent those 2 hours moving 100 textbooks, arranging and tweeking 25 PCs, finding 25 chairs and placing 6 tables. Then I found that my SSH server's RAID drive crashed, so I had to setup openSSH on an alternate server I used to have for FTP. That's OK since I don't need the FTP server much anymore. I use the SSH sever for my AP Computer Science students to login from home and finish their Java projects. I share files with my students through Edmodo. I upload my files on DropBox, SageCell and YouTube aka my cloud! WEDNESDAY: First Day of Classes The first day of every quarter starts with the "Ceremony Of The Seats" (new seating assignments). The students come into a dark room except for the PC monitors and the SmartBoard. On the SmartBoard I'm playing an MP3 of the sound track to "A Beautiful Mind" over VLC. Since this isn't an MP4, VLC adds some wild special effects on the SmartBoard so it's all cool. Then I walk to each seat and call each student using my SmartPhone as a flashlight as if I'm an usher in the Movie Theater. It's all very dramatic. Then we hand out books and book cards, go over the syllabus and fill out some biographical forms. Sorry, there's no instruction the first day of classes. YOUTUBE: Since it was Wednesday, after all, I had to show a FILK or two! So, at the end of the period I snuck in our own student made Frozen and then the infamous Mathmaticious! THURSDAY: Lesson 1200 Intro to SAGE Finally, we say goodbye to Ziggie (TI-83) and play around with SAGECELL! All we did was some basic Arithmetic and Algebra but I think we got across the power of a robust Computer Algebra System, aka CAS, such as SAGE! FRIDAY: Lesson 1201 Sequences & Series We dive right into sequences and series using for loops and list comprehensions in python! TECH NOTE: I recorded these ScreenCasts last year. The audio isn't great as I was using a BlueTooth Mic I inherited after Hurricane Sandy. It took me a while to get all my equipment replaced, sorry. Math 4R: preCalculus + SAGECELL SCREENCASTS: YouTube descriptions include links to code and notes if you need them.
Teaching Math 4R:
Ziggie must die - No more TI-83!
Quarter I Week 0 August Preparation:
PreCalculus is all new this year:
(1) My preCalculus for Juniors classes will start the school year with Chapter 12 this year! We start with Chapter 12 so we don't waste a lot of time reviewing topics from Chapters 1 and 2 which are about solving Linear Equations and Quadratics! So, when midyear is upon us, we can switch to Calculus without skipping important topics at the end of the preCalculus text. As such, we cover as much preCalculus as we can in the Fall Semester and as much AP Calculus AB material as we can in the Spring in preparation for Calculus next year! (2) We are using a Computer Algebra System called SAGE instead of the TI-83. We used to call the TI-83 "Ziggie." Hence the title of this post: Ziggie must die! The grand experiment this year is to see how well students learn the Math while learning to code in python at the same time! Well, it's not such a grand experiment as we've been using SAGECELL for several years now. What's different is that we won't be using the TI-83 this year as we just don't need it anymore! (3) We will be learning a lot of python in class. You can learn some python code on your own too with this online, interactive textbook! (4) Here's a taste of our first day:
I don't usually do a day by day rundown of the week, but here goes nothing! MONDAY: Labor Day (nothing to report) TUESDAY: Superintendent's Conferences where we spent all day in meetings except for the last 2 hours of the day when we finally got to set up our rooms. I spent those 2 hours moving 100 textbooks, arranging and tweeking 25 PCs, finding 25 chairs and placing 6 tables. Then I found that my SSH server's RAID drive crashed, so I had to setup openSSH on an alternate server I used to have for FTP. That's OK since I don't need the FTP server much anymore. I use the SSH sever for my AP Computer Science students to login from home and finish their Java projects. I share files with my students through Edmodo. I upload my files on DropBox, SageCell and YouTube aka my cloud! WEDNESDAY: First Day of Classes The first day of every quarter starts with the "Ceremony Of The Seats" (new seating assignments). The students come into a dark room except for the PC monitors and the SmartBoard. On the SmartBoard I'm playing an MP3 of the sound track to "A Beautiful Mind" over VLC. Since this isn't an MP4, VLC adds some wild special effects on the SmartBoard so it's all cool. Then I walk to each seat and call each student using my SmartPhone as a flashlight as if I'm an usher in the Movie Theater. It's all very dramatic. Then we hand out books and book cards, go over the syllabus and fill out some biographical forms. Sorry, there's no instruction the first day of classes. YOUTUBE: Since it was Wednesday, after all, I had to show a FILK or two! So, at the end of the period I snuck in our own student made Frozen and then the infamous Mathmaticious! THURSDAY: Lesson 1200 Intro to SAGE Finally, we say goodbye to Ziggie (TI-83) and play around with SAGECELL! All we did was some basic Arithmetic and Algebra but I think we got across the power of a robust Computer Algebra System, aka CAS, such as SAGE! FRIDAY: Lesson 1201 Sequences & Series We dive right into sequences and series using for loops and list comprehensions in python! TECH NOTE: I recorded these ScreenCasts last year. The audio isn't great as I was using a BlueTooth Mic I inherited after Hurricane Sandy. It took me a while to get all my equipment replaced, sorry. Math 4R: preCalculus + SAGECELL SCREENCASTS: YouTube descriptions include links to code and notes if you need them.
Teaching Math 4R:
Ziggie must die - No more TI-83!
Quarter I Week 0 August Preparation:
PreCalculus is all new this year:
(1) My preCalculus for Juniors classes will start the school year with Chapter 12 this year! We start with Chapter 12 so we don't waste a lot of time reviewing topics from Chapters 1 and 2 which are about solving Linear Equations and Quadratics! So, when midyear is upon us, we can switch to Calculus without skipping important topics at the end of the preCalculus text. As such, we cover as much preCalculus as we can in the Fall Semester and as much AP Calculus AB material as we can in the Spring in preparation for Calculus next year! (2) We are using a Computer Algebra System called SAGE instead of the TI-83. We used to call the TI-83 "Ziggie." Hence the title of this post: Ziggie must die! The grand experiment this year is to see how well students learn the Math while learning to code in python at the same time! Well, it's not such a grand experiment as we've been using SAGECELL for several years now. What's different is that we won't be using the TI-83 this year as we just don't need it anymore! (3) We will be learning a lot of python in class. You can learn some python code on your own too with this online, interactive textbook! (4) Here's a taste of our first day: Well, that's all folks!
We covered a number of loose ends in UNIT5A. We played around with Optimization, Related Rates, Accumulator Functions and Volumes of Revolution! This is the last post in this thread for this year as next week is Final Review and then we have In-Class Finals. I think we had a successful year. You have all our ScreenCasts, SmartNotes and SAGE WorkSheets for the whole year right here in this post! However, next year I think I'm rerecording my ScreenCasts with my current mic. The beginning of the year had poor audio. Also, I think I can use SAGE more. Hope you had fun learning SAGE with us this year. Have a great Summer, see you next year! SAGE Calculus UNIT5A: Applications
Bye Bye Period 3, Math 4H preCalc
You will be missed!
Bye Bye Period 4, Math 4R-11 preCalc
You will be missed!
Bye Bye Period 7, Math 4R-11 preCalc
You will be missed!
Quarter IV Weeks 3&4: 4/28-5/09
We finished UNIT5 on Anti-Derivatives with a lot of python programming in SAGE for Riemann Sums! Here's a number crunching version of nLRTE in a SAGECELL. Here's a graphical version of gLRTE also in a SAGECELL. These programs calculate Left Sums, Right Sums, Trap Sums and trap Errors. You can change f(x), a, b and n and recalculate everything on the fly! The graphical version, gives numerical output as well as a graph of the rectangles and allows for GUI input.
Quarter IV Weeks 1&2: 4/14-4/25
We started UNIT5 on Anti-Derivatives 2 weeks ago and will continue UNIT5 for 2 weeks more. UNIT2 was 2 weeks on the Definition of the Derivative. UNIT3 was 2 weeks on Product Rule, Quotient Rule and Chain Rule. Now, UNIT5 is 4 weeks on Definite and Indefinite Integrals, Differential Equations and Riemann Sums! SAGE Calculus UNIT5 Anti-Deivatives:
Quarter III Weeks 7&8: 3/24-4/04
We finished UNIT2 of Calculus with the Definition of the Derivative as the limit of the Difference Quotient. We also started UNIT3 about the Product Rule and the Quotient Rule. We had fun on April Fool's day (see video 302). Chain rule in next week! SAGE Calculus UNIT3 Derivative Rules:
Quarter III Weeks 5&6: 3/10-3/21
We finished CH3 Rational Functions. I always like to end preCalculus this way as Rational Functions is a rich topic for introducing limits at infinity and limits at a point. Then we started UNIT2 of Calculus with the Definition of the Derivative as the limit of the Difference Quotient. We already figured out the Power Rule as well as the derivatives of sin(x), cos(x) and exp(x) not to mention 1/x and sqrt(x) which are really Power Rule anyway! Take a look at our SagePub directory above. We've been using SAGECELL in class a lot lately. I've been saving these cells as worksheets on the Clemson server to share here. SAGE Calculus UNIT2 Limits:
Quarter III Weeks 3&4: 2/24-3/7
We didn't get much accomplished these past few weeks with all the Snow Days and February Break! We did, nevertheless, get to finish the PreCalc text doing CH3 Rational Functions. We also talked about Linear, Quadratic, Power and Polynomial Functions. I love to end on this topic as its a nice intro to Limits! Next unit starts Calculus! We also started using the SAGECELL server (see video).
SAGE Chapter 3 Rational Functions:
Quarter III Weeks 1&2: 2/3-2/14
We didn't get much accomplished these past few weeks with a Delayed Opening and so many SnowDays of late! We did somehow finish CH4: Polynomials. We talked about Real Roots, Complex Roots and InEqualities. After February Break we'll cover CH3 Rational Functions before starting Calculus! NOTE TO SELF: BTW, we had problems scheduling our Midterm this year. I think that next year I'll leave CH5 for after Midterms so we have more time for Review! So, we will cover Chapters 12,11,10,9,4. Then we Review and have an in class Midterm. After Midterm week, we can cover CH5 and CH3 and then Calculus! We can be a bit more SAGE intensive next year too, now that I have all my SAGE worksheets. Maybe we'll try using http://cloud.sagemath.org or http://sagecell.sagemath.org too. SAGE Chapter 4 Polynomials:
TI83 Chapter 4 Polynomials:
Quarter II Weeks 8&9: 1/13-1/24
We finished Chapter 5 all about Inverse Functions like Exponential and Logarithmic Functions. This week we worked on solving exponential and logarithmic equations as well as real world problems aka word problems and problem solving. Next week is the last week of the quarter and then we have midterm week. As I look over Quarter II, I find that we had precious little time for SAGE in class. We focused on the basics of SAGE and python during Quarter I. This Quarter, I still used SAGE, but I posted my SAGE WorkSheets on Edmodo after class for those who still wanted to follow along any new topic with SAGE.
Our in class midterm was delayed until the week after midterms. So, there won't be much new here until 2/10/14!
Quarter II Week 7: 1/6-1/10
We continued Chapter 5 all about Inverse Functions like Exponential and Logarithmic Functions. We focused on using exponents to cancel logs and visa versa in order to solve equations!
Quarter II Week 6: 12/16-12/20
We started Chapter 5 all about Inverse Functions like Exponential and Logarithmic Functions. Of course, Friday was PreCalculus Caroling Day!
SAGE Chapter 5 Inverses:
TI83 Chapter 5 Inverses:
Quarter II Weeks 4&5: 12/2-12/13
We finished Chapter 9 all about CIS(theta) and Vectors. We focused the last week or so on dot products and cross products (see below)!
Quarter II Week 3: 11/25-11/29
We started Chapter 9 all about Vectors. Actually, we started with CIS(theta) and Complex Arithmetic! We stuck to reference angles mostly and no tech was harmed in the making of our screencast (as yet). It was a short week due to Thanksgiving. So, we had Take Home Tuesday on CIS(theta) and GAMEDAY on Wednesday. Fun was had by all!
SAGE Chapter 9 Vectors:
TI83 Chapter 9 Vectors:
Quarter II Week 2: 11/18-11/22
We finished Chapter 10 all about Conics. This week we focused on Parametric graphs and Word Problems. Next we will cover CH9 Vectors starting with CIS(theta).
Quarter II Week 1: 11/11-11/15
We continued Chapter 10 all about Conics. This week we focused on Polar graphs. We talked about converting General Form Conics to Polar Form instead on Completing the Square in the case of rotated graphs! Next weeks now is about Parametrics.
Quarter I Week 9: 11/4-11/8
We started Chapter 10 all about Conics. This week we focused on Completing The Square as a method to convert General Form conics into Standard Form Parabolas, Ellipses and Hyperbolas. We also focused on graphing Standard Form Conics without any tech! Next week is about Polar graphs and 2 weeks from now is about Parametrics. We're going to need TI83s or SAGE for that....
SAGE Chapter 10 Conics:
TI83 Chapter 10 Conics:
Quarter I Week 8: 10/28-11/1
We are finished with Chapter 11 about Matrices! We had a test on Friday. We are starting Chapter 10: Conics next week.
Quarter I Week 7: 10/21-10/25
We are almost finished with Chapter 11 about Matrices. This week focused on nonLinear Systems. Then we reviewed solving Linear Systems using Determinants or Matrix Inverses. We even had a preQuiz on Thursday and a Quiz on Friday on Linear Systems. Next week we cover the last topic in CH11: Linear Programming. The preTest this Thursday and Test this Friday will include all the nonLinear and Linear Systems as well as Linear Programming.
Quarter I Week 6: 10/14-10/18
We continued Chapter 11 about Matrices. This week focused on Matrix Arithmetic and Matrix Algebra. First we need to know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide before we can do the Algebra, aka Arithmetic backwards! BTW, we aren't really dividing, we're multiplying by the reciprocal. So, we used reciprocals to solve Matrix Equations.
Quarter I Week 5: 10/07-10/11
Out sick.... However, I did start using DropBox, see above!
Quarter I Week 4: 9/30-10/04
We started Chapter 11 about Matrices this week! We started by reviewing 2x2 Systems Algebraically and Graphically. Then we introduced Guass-Jordan Elimination using Augmented Matrices!
SAGE Chapter 11 Matrices:
TI83 Chapter 11 Matrices:
Quarter I Week 3: 9/23-9/27
We finished CH12 this week with a test! Our last topics included Proof By Induction and The Binomial Expansion Theorem!
Quarter I Week 2: 9/16-9/20
This week we covered Geometric Sequences and Induction! Included below you will find ScreenCasts based on TI83 and SAGE. I also have SmartNotes from the TI83 ScreenCasts as well as SAGE Worksheets for the SAGE ScreenCasts!
Quarter I Week 1: 9/9-9/30:
PreCalculus is all new this year:
(1) My preCalculus for Juniors classes started the school year with Chapter 12 this year! We start with Chapter 12 so we don't waste a lot of time reviewing topics from Chapters 1 and 2 which are about solving Linear Equations and Quadratics! So, when midyear is upon us, we can switch to Calculus without skipping important topics at the end of the preCalculus text. As such, we cover as much preCalculus as we can in the Fall Semester and as much AP Calculus AB material as we can in the Spring in preparation for Calculus next year! (2) We are using a Computer Algebra System called SAGE instead of the TI83. The grand experiment this year is to see how well students learn the Math while learning to code in python at the same time! (3) We will be learning a lot of python in class. You can learn some python code on your own too with this online, interactive textbook! I actually have 2 different preCalculus classes. PreCalculus 4R and preCalculus 4H cover the same material and is comprised mostly of Juniors. The difference between these to groups is that 4R takes AP Calculus AB next year and 4H takes AP Calculus BC. Also, we cover material a little more in-depth for the 4H student and our tests may be a bit more challenging.
Applied Math, Physics and CS
