Abstract
Media-Propelled Computational Thinking (MPCT - pronounced impact) is a course designed to introduce programming in the context of engaging problems in media computation, math, and physics. Programming concepts are introduced as incremental steps needed to solve pragmatic problems students already understand. The problems, graphical API, and hands-on program features are intended to expose fundamental concepts in mathematics and quantitative science. MPCT is offered in an entering students program for freshmen who plan to specialize in a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and non-STEM subjects. The curriculum is intended to strengthen student intuition and interest in mathematical modeling and programming by engaging students in the direct manipulation of simple mathematical systems that model and display familiar physical phenomena. MPCT uses programs as concrete and manipulatable examples of fundamental concepts to engage a diverse range of students including women and underrepresented minorities. Variants of MPCT are being developed for high schools, and as a means to introduce computational science to upper division undergraduates studying non-computational STEM disciplines. This paper provides an overview of MPCT and representative problem studies including models of ballistics and resonant systems. The evaluation plan is described and very preliminary results are presented.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | SIGCSE'10 - Proceedings of the 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education |
| Pages | 37-41 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2010 |
| Event | 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, SIGCSE'10 - Milwaukee, WI, United States Duration: Mar 10 2010 → Mar 13 2010 |
Other
| Other | 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, SIGCSE'10 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Milwaukee, WI |
| Period | 3/10/10 → 3/13/10 |
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Keywords
- Computational thinking
- CS-zero
- First year programs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computational Theory and Mathematics
- Computer Science Applications
- Education
Cite this
MPCT - Media Propelled Computational Thinking. / Freudenthal, Eric Andrew; Roy, Mary K.; Ogrey, Alexandria Nicole; Magoc, Tanja; Siegel, Alan.
SIGCSE'10 - Proceedings of the 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education. 2010. p. 37-41.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - MPCT - Media Propelled Computational Thinking
AU - Freudenthal, Eric Andrew
AU - Roy, Mary K.
AU - Ogrey, Alexandria Nicole
AU - Magoc, Tanja
AU - Siegel, Alan
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Media-Propelled Computational Thinking (MPCT - pronounced impact) is a course designed to introduce programming in the context of engaging problems in media computation, math, and physics. Programming concepts are introduced as incremental steps needed to solve pragmatic problems students already understand. The problems, graphical API, and hands-on program features are intended to expose fundamental concepts in mathematics and quantitative science. MPCT is offered in an entering students program for freshmen who plan to specialize in a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and non-STEM subjects. The curriculum is intended to strengthen student intuition and interest in mathematical modeling and programming by engaging students in the direct manipulation of simple mathematical systems that model and display familiar physical phenomena. MPCT uses programs as concrete and manipulatable examples of fundamental concepts to engage a diverse range of students including women and underrepresented minorities. Variants of MPCT are being developed for high schools, and as a means to introduce computational science to upper division undergraduates studying non-computational STEM disciplines. This paper provides an overview of MPCT and representative problem studies including models of ballistics and resonant systems. The evaluation plan is described and very preliminary results are presented.
AB - Media-Propelled Computational Thinking (MPCT - pronounced impact) is a course designed to introduce programming in the context of engaging problems in media computation, math, and physics. Programming concepts are introduced as incremental steps needed to solve pragmatic problems students already understand. The problems, graphical API, and hands-on program features are intended to expose fundamental concepts in mathematics and quantitative science. MPCT is offered in an entering students program for freshmen who plan to specialize in a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and non-STEM subjects. The curriculum is intended to strengthen student intuition and interest in mathematical modeling and programming by engaging students in the direct manipulation of simple mathematical systems that model and display familiar physical phenomena. MPCT uses programs as concrete and manipulatable examples of fundamental concepts to engage a diverse range of students including women and underrepresented minorities. Variants of MPCT are being developed for high schools, and as a means to introduce computational science to upper division undergraduates studying non-computational STEM disciplines. This paper provides an overview of MPCT and representative problem studies including models of ballistics and resonant systems. The evaluation plan is described and very preliminary results are presented.
KW - Computational thinking
KW - CS-zero
KW - First year programs
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77952230350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/1734263.1734276
DO - 10.1145/1734263.1734276
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77952230350
SN - 9781605588858
SP - 37
EP - 41
BT - SIGCSE'10 - Proceedings of the 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
ER -