Opening Keynote: Soup to Nuts
Presented by Gene Spafford
We all know about computers—those things in our backpacks or on the desk. We know where they're used, and what they do. Or do we? Computers are used in places—and for purposes—many of us haven't thought about very much. Some things are interesting, and others...well, mundane. And when things go wrong, it can be rather spectacular. In this talk, I present some different places where computers are used, and maybe a little why they are surprising. Sometimes, the way to get people interested in a topic isn't by showing them how you do it, but by showing what can be done; and maybe a little of what can be undone!

Computer Science, Game Development and the XNA Game Studio Platform
Presented by Alfred Thompson & Steve Scanlan
This presentation talks about creating and implementing a high school game development curriculum using the (free) XNA Game Studio. We present the reasoning behind this type of course, show screenshots and a video introduction to student projects, as well as show examples of the sort of code students can create. We also talk about how freely available curriculum has been used and modified with real students. We present a collection of helpful resources including websites, tutorials and videos from Microsoft and independent web sites.


Programming Contests and Competitions
Presented by Karen Lang & Margot Phillipps
The popularity of participation in math and science contests shows a huge desire by students and parents to get a sense of "their place." Computer Science suffers in the eyes of students, their parents, and educators in general. It is not seen as a high status subject and the battles advocating for it are well known to the CSIT audience. We present the case for the motivational value of programming contests. We advocate for increasing the awareness of competitions as one way of increasing the awareness of the subject and its status. We also present some of the many options available for entering competitions and how to run a local contest.


Building a 21st Century School with Google Apps
Presented by Dana Nguyen
The next generation of students brings a different set of expectations and technical experiences to school. Meeting the changing learning habits of these students and providing the tools necessary to enable 21st century teaching and learning are difficult challenges many schools and districts face today. Learn how Google Apps Education Edition can provide advanced communication and collaboration tools for schools—at zero cost.


Teaching Computer Programming to Middle School Students using Basic and Scratch
Presented by Craig Whitmore
We discuss an ongoing Middle School Computer Programming course that uses freeware programs (Chipmunk BASIC and Scratch) to expose students to computer programming. In this course, students create their own text adventure game in Chipmunk BASIC and their own graphic games in Scratch. The course of study is described in detail and student work is displayed. Handouts include a semester-length course-of-study, instructional worksheets, student work examples, and source weblinks. Topics in the course include programming logic and concepts (variable input and manipulation, conditional statements, logical progression, debugging, random number generation), basic game design, and simple object-oriented programming, as well as several ancillary topics (Choose Your Own Adventure genre of books, Zork text adventure game, and ASCII art). This has been one of the most popular elective courses at the presenter's middle school for the past six years.


Code as a Metaphor for Computational Thinking
Presented by Owen Astrachan
Code is a really good way, though certainly not the only way, to describe Computational Thinking. Three kinds of code pervade our lives, both literally and figuratively: the code of software, the code of law and protocols, and the code of life. We'll look at all three using examples that cut across courses, disciplines, and schools. The code of software: humanity has been changed and empowered by software, the internet/web, and the collaborations these have facilitated. The code of law and protocols: how the Internet works across the world, how China censors digital content, how copyright, privacy, and security are enforced by law, protocols, and software. The code of life: computational techniques have enabled new branches of science and medicine related to genomics. Using simple, but powerful examples, we can introduce genomics and biology through the eyes of computational thinking.


What's Going On With AP CS: The CS 10,000 Teachers Project
Presented by Jan Cuny & Chris Stephenson
For the last year the AP Computer Science Commission and the AP CS Advisory Council have been working on a new Computer Science Principles course that is expected to debut as a new Advanced Placement course in 2015. This session provides information about the big ideas and supporting concepts in this new course, its intended place in the high school curriculum, and its importance to the goal of making computer science more engaging for students. We will also provide information on the 10,000 Teachers project, which is intended to get this course into 10,000 schools and to prepare the teachers we need to make this goal a reality.


All the Women are MACs, All the PCs are Men, and the Rest of Us are Linux
Presented by Kimberley Scott
Too often, discussions of technological equity concern either race or gender. Such an approach informs our teaching practices, policies, and funding strategies. Despite these efforts, a digital divide persists. In this presentation, we explore how the either-or approach needs to be replaced by an and-both assumption. Using an interactive format, we consider why discussions of gender equity in technology should include girls' multiple identities; how this shift can transform our actions; and what emerging research suggests for shaping our deeds as practitioners, designers, policy makers, and individuals interested in closing the divide. To these ends, we will link theory to practice and identify resources to actualize our intent.


Web that Works
Presented by Doug Peterson
Engagement and motivation are two attributes that can be awakened in students when you incorporate interactive and exciting web based activities into the Information Technology classroom. In this session, Doug demonstrates some of the ways that Greater Essex County teachers have embraced this concept to bring their classrooms alive.


How does your "Geek" garden grow? Identifying and cultivating the geeks of tomorrow. (AP CS Feeder Course)
Presented by Cammie Wilson
For the purposes of this session a "geek" is defined as a person with the necessary creativity, focus, problem solving ability and interest in technology to excel in computer science. I present high school teachers with pointers on how to spot budding "geeks" of assorted varieties, how to verify your suspicions of "geek" potential, and how to interact with your geeks. Then we will look at a specific curriculum with assignments and activities designed to teach problem solving, flexibility, and collaboration while supplying key computer science concepts and building foundational skills.


Fostering Computational Thinking in Middle and High School
Presented by Irene Lee
This presentation aims to help teachers and youth providers understand computational thinking (its definition, what it looks like "in the wild," how it can connect with their existing curriculum, and how to nurture computational thinking in today's youth) by sharing rich examples from National Science Foundation funded Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST), Academies for Young Scientists (AYS) and Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering (REESE) programs. The examples provide a lens through which one can consider the implications for learning and teaching computational thinking skills in grades K through 12.


Experiences from within the AP Computer Science Program
Presented by David Reed, Julie Zelenski & Gail Chapman
The Advanced Placement Computer Science program is a massive effort, involving curriculum design, teacher training and support, test development, and assessment. The panelists bring nearly 50 years of combined experience in all aspects of the AP CS program: Gail Chapman was the development and assessment specialist for the AP CS program from 1989-1999 and led teacher training efforts at the College Board from 2000-2005; Julie Zelenski was a consultant to the College Board and member of the AP CS Development Committee from 2001-2005; David Reed was a long-time exam reader and Chief Reader from 2004-2008. The panel provides historical perspective as well as insights and practical advice for current AP CS teachers.


Exploring Computer Science: A K-12/University Partnership to Increase Access to Engaging and College-Preparatory High School Computer Science
Presented by Joanna Goode, John Landa, Anthony Pagán & Suzanne Schaeffer
In our presentation we describe how our K-12/University partnership in Los Angeles has taken on the mission to increase access to quality computer science education opportunities. To do so we focus on:

• Creating/Piloting a new curriculum, Exploring Computer Science
• Designing Professional Development that involves in-classroom coaching and inquiry groups,and community building
• Systemic and Policy Change

In this workshop, we discuss the content and philosophy behind the Exploring Computer Science curriculum. We also focus on:

• the ECS teacher professional development model/including coaching program and inquiry groups/building of teacher community
• our assessment of the first year and its impact on students and teachers

Web Design and Development—A Key to a Growing Program
Presented by Pat Phillips & Alfred Thompson
It's quick and easy for students to create interactive websites using the professional Web design software from Microsoft—Expression Studio 3. Learn how your secondary schools can receive Expression Studio at no cost! Explore the free teaching and learning resources that will enable you to add Web design to your students' toolbox of communication tools and explore deeper Web development techniques. The free curriculum materials range from 2-hour tutorials, to 2-week multi-disciplinary units, to a full semester of comprehensive Web design concepts. All of the materials were created by teachers and tested by students. Students can install the software free of charge on their personal computer making this a valuable software option for many schools challenged with providing professional design and developer software to students.


Functional Videogame Programming
Presented by Emmanuel Schanzer
What do videogames, algebra and programming have in common? This presentation addresses recent research in the field of algebra education and examines Bootstrap, a real-world curriculum that brings this research into the classroom. Bootstrap is currently in use at schools around the country, and has introduced more than four hundred at-risk 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to algebraic functions. With the rise of high-stakes testing and the renewed focus on algebra, there is an exciting opportunity for expanding the teaching of computer science. However, this focus also presents equally imposing challenges and questions for educators. How does one align programming with algebra? What languages, tools, and activities are actually relevant, and what should be avoided? Some painful decisions have to be made to do it right, but the payoff can be huge. Come and see some of the games students have written, programmed in pure algebra!


Design and Implementation of Computer Science Teaching Endorsements
Presented by Suzanne Hambrusch & Rich Schlesinger
The session describes efforts at Purdue and KSU on the implementation of the NCATE CS teacher prep standards. The CS Department at Purdue, in collaboration with its School of Education, is currently developing a Purdue-only "endorsement." Indiana does not have any explicit computer science licensing rules. The endorsement will be used to start a dialog with the state about whether Indiana might want to establish licensing rules. Purdue's effort includes developing modules on computational thinking for education courses and developing a CS methods course. KSU saw the need for a computer science teacher certification program as a natural extension of its math & science teacher preparation programs. KSU became a leader in the effort to create a state certification in Georgia and, subsequently, has become the first state approved provider of a CS teacher preparation program. The CS department is now actively working to encourage Education majors to also pursue the certification.


App Inventor for Android Workshop
Presented by Ellen Spertus, Mark Friedman & Liz Looney
This hands-on workshop will introduce attendees to Google's App Inventor for Android (AIA), including creating a simple application, transferring it to a temporarily provided phone, and running it on an emulator. We will briefly compare AIA to other visual programming environments, such as Scratch and Alice, and discuss AIA's successful use in college "CS0" classrooms and in pre-college workshops. (Participants must have Firefox 3 or higher and Java Runtime Environment 1.6 or higher installed on their laptops.)


Computing for Everyone
Presented by Richard Ladner
We start with an introduction to successful computer scientists with disabilities. Then we review various access technologies that permit students with disabilities to participate in the classroom and lab. We summarize the trends in accessibility research which will open up even more avenues for students to fully participate in class. We review some strategies for universal design of curriculum and activities that allow all students to participate regardless of disability. We introduce the Access Computing Alliance that has the goal of increasing the participation and success of students with disabilities in computing fields.


Service Learning Video Projects
Presented by Julia Ringgold
Service Learning Video Projects provide our students with a positive opportunity to express their creativity while helping their community. Julia will present practical applications for elementary school teachers and students to create video projects with community service themes. Apple computer iLife applications are the central software programs used for this project. Videos are focused on community service themes such as "Living Healthy", "Traffic Safety", "Recycling", "Global Warming" and "Peaceful Alternatives to Domestic Violence, Road Rage, Bullying, Racism, etc." Student video projects are useful for school websites, public service announcements and are integral to academic curriculum. Workshop participants will also learn how to upload their projects to various hosts such as SchoolTube, ePals, and TeacherTube. The purpose of the workshop is to provide information for teachers who want to help their student discover that computing is fun and contributes positively to our society.


Using Greenfoot to Motivate Students and Teach OO Concepts
Presented by Michael Kölling
Greenfoot is a highly interactive, graphical system (developed by the designers of BlueJ) that allows introductory teaching of programming in an engaging and motivating way. Teaching with Greenfoot generates motivation for students through the use of interactive graphical programming, such as simulations and games. It uses a similar approach to motivational programming as Alice and Scratch, however, it uses standard Java as the implementation language for students. Thus Greenfoot combines the motivational benefits of dedicated graphical introductory teaching systems with the use of a standard programming language. The target audience is beginning programmers from age 14 upwards. This presentation introduces everything a teacher needs to know to start using Greenfoot in a classroom. This includes teaching examples, pointers to additional teaching material, tutorials, and a teacher community platform for sharing and discussing material.


Digitizing the World: An Approach to Teaching Computational Thinking
Presented by Robb Cutler & Michelle Hutton
Computational thinking is the skill of applying computer science concepts to solve diverse problems. Learn about tested curriculum units to teach computational thinking including digitizing images and three-dimensional objects, and inspire students to consider ethical and philosophical questions about computing. Hear what went well and what pitfalls to avoid. Resources are free and appropriate for use with elementary students through high school.