On the use of computers vs the value of computer science

See below for an article on how so much emphasis in schooling is being placed on using computers... and not necessarily in knowing how they work and how they are programmed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/high-school-students-are-all-about-computers-but-get-little-instruction-in-computer-science/2014/04/23/13979eda-c185-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html

Steve

"Hacking" Competition

See below for an upcoming competition:

CSTA ANNOUNCEMENTS LISTSERV

HSCTF, an online competition which will educate high school students across the country about computer security, runs from May 18-25, 2014. Competitors in High School Capture the Flag (or HSCTF) will learn computer science skills, and use ingenuity to discover a series of increasingly hard to find “flags” encrypted, hidden, or otherwise stored somewhere difficult to access.

While HSCTF is primarily about educating students in computer security, it will also include other computer science topics such as programming, algorithm design, and programming language design. The approach is unique in that it extends the CTF model to other areas of computer science.

HSCTF is inspired by Carnegie Mellon's enormously successful picoCTF:

https://picoctf.com/

To learn more, see sample problems, and sign up to receive more information about registration, visit:

http://hsctf.com/

For questions, contact Jacob Edelman, HSCTF Lead Founder/Organizer at:

jacob@HSCTF.com.

Getting a Handle on the Grading Process

Check out this web site for a ballparking tool for predicting your grade on the APCS test based on performance on the MC and the FR.

http://appass.com/calculators/computerscience

Svetty

For 2nd-year (and soon-to-be 2nd-year students)

This comes from Professor Beckman... an article on why learning Clojure maybe, just maybe, might be worth your while.

http://puppetlabs.com/blog/new-era-application-services-puppet-labs

Svetty

New Contest

Here is a chance for your students to use their coding skills to win big!

Summer family movie EARTH TO ECHO is hosting "Code: Echo": a Challenge for students K-12 to create a game inspired by the film. Students can download assets and get creative.

PRIZES:
In each category there will be:
1 grand prize winner ($5,000.00 + hometown screening)
1 runner-up prize winner ($2,500.00)

WHO CAN ENTER
Students of all ages, a team with up to 4 friends, or an entire classroom.

Entries are due May 2nd. Start coding at www.codeechomovie.com.

Asli Taylor
Relativity Media
email: codeecho@relativitymedia.com

Some REALLY cool robots worth checking out...

Imagine learning how to program at five years old... :)

http://youtu.be/uLDQDaPHy9E

Svetty

"Best" colleges and majors

For those interested in learning a little more about the "best" colleges out there:

http://lanetechcs.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/which-college-and-which-major-will-make-you-richest/

Mr. Svetlik

Opportunity for girls interested in iOS app dev

NCWIT is excited to announce a collaboration with Apple to increase the participation of young women in the 2014 World Wide Developers Conference.  Please share this opportunity with your networks of students. 

 There is a very short window to apply, so it is a bit time sensitive.

Here are some quick highlights for student scholarships:

- Now open to students 13+, application details developer.apple.com/wwdc/students

- No paid program membership required. (By contrast, regular ticket purchase is only available to current paid program members) Developers who are not already registered will be directed to register for free as an Apple Developer during submission of their scholarship application.

- Students must create an app and submit it to be considered for the scholarship. 

- Submissions will be accepted starting Friday April 11 at 10am until Monday April 14 at 5pm

- Full details and guidelines for app submission and well as terms and conditions can be found at the student pages in the links below. 

https://developer.apple.com/wwdc/students/Student-Scholarship-Guidelines-and-Terms.pdf