View this PageEdit this PageUploads to this PageVersions of this PageHomeRecent ChangesSearchHelp Guide

CS concepts

A place for putting up ideas and declaring that you're going to work on it.





Topic 1: Principles of Computer Organization

  • Demo structural and/or functional parts of a computer as objects in squeak. Have kids drag/drop simplified assembly-like code that then gets run on the computer, with all loading and flow of data and operations made visible via animation. Example... their program might be adding several numbers by loading into registers and storing the result. The running of the code would show numbers being put into registers, or moving along bus, to the alu, etc.


Topic 2: Problem Solving



Topic 3: Basics of Computer Networks

  • data packets
  • topology


Topic 4: Internet Concepts

  • security: encryption, simple substitution with arrays, decoder


Topic 5: Hierarchy and Abstraction in Computing

  • Logic Gates: Being worked on by Ben This also can go under computer organization.
  • Heirarchy of Objects: Animation of a robot, with different levels of motion (torso, shoulder, elbow, etc) Being worked on by Dave (but I haven't done anything yet)


Topic 6: Math and Computer Science

  • pigeon hole principle
  • conditionals
  • functions, growths


Topic 7: Machine Intelligence

  • breaking up English sentences into their grammatical parts / structure – syntax – perhaps students can modify/create rules and see the outcome.
  • Knowledge based systems (a) decision trees as representation of knowledge and for classification.
  • Knowledge based systems (b) production rules (ab->c), logical chaining to deduce new facts.
  • lame simulation of Genetic Algorithms with 'algorithm' objects being selected based on traits and then reproducing children with similar traits + 'mutation' Being worked on by Dave



Topic 8: Utility of Computers

  • Simulation: “what are the key processes in simulation?” ie variables, code


Topic 9: Ethical Issues



Topic 10: Careers in Computing



Topic 11: Programming Languages

  • Arrays: Being worked on by MJ


Topic 12: Web Design and Development



Topic 13: Multimedia



Topic 14: Applications