About « PD4CS - Python programming, common student misconceptions, student projects

About

About PD4CS

The goal of PD4CS (Professional Development for Computer Science) is to provide an evidence-based professional development (PD) program to improve teachers’ knowledge to teach computer science, with a special focus on the effective training of teachers having limited computer science background. The PD materials are aligned with the curriculum of the AP CS Principles (CSP) course. It covers some Scratch and otherwise uses Python in the PD resources related to programming. Over half of the PD material does not require programming (even though programming activities are typically suggested).

The PD material was developed along three main guidelines: (i) teaching methodologies and pedagogies grounded in computer science and educational methods, (ii) knowledge of the challenges teachers face when teaching computer science with limited domain knowledge background, and (iii) responding to misconceptions and challenges students encounter in beginning computing courses. We welcome teachers to adapt our materials for their own teaching lessons, and we describe opportunities for classroom projects as appropriate.

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number 1339245

Contact information: PD4CS Research Team (pd4cs-help@lists.purdue.edu)

Show Members in PD4CS

Aman Dr. Aman Yadav, Professor, Educational Psychology & Educational Technology, Michigan State University,

Dr. Aman Yadav is a Professor of Educational Psychology and Educational Technology at Michigan State University with extensive experience in research, evaluation, and teacher professional development. His areas of expertise include computer science education, problem-based learning, and online learning. His research and teaching focus on improving student experiences and outcomes in computer science and engineering at the K-16 level. His work has been published in a number of leading journals, including ACM Transactions on Computing Education, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Journal of Engineering Education, and Communications of the ACM. Twitter (@yadavaman), website (http://www.amanyadav.org)

Dr. Tim Korb, Computer Science, Purdue University

Dr. Korb is the Assistant Head of the Computer Science Department. He is responsible for the direction and operation of the departmental computing facilities and is involved in several departmental programs, including K-12 outreach, corporate and alumni relations, and undergraduate scholarships and awards. He has developed and/or taught courses in programming languages, compiler design, and computer networking, and, most recently, co-designed and taught two introductory computing courses.

Dr. James Lehman, Curriculum & Instruction, Purdue University

Dr. Lehman is a Professor of Educational Technology and Associate Dean for Discovery and Faculty Development in the College of Education. From 2002-2009 he served as the Head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. His research focuses on the integration of personal computers in education particularly in the sciences, interactive multimedia design, and computer mediated distance education. He is a co-author of Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning. From 2000-04, he served as the PI of a U. S. Department of Education PT3 implementation project at Purdue, which focused on improving the educational technology knowledge and skills of prospective teachers and teacher educators. He is a member of the university’s Teaching Academy and was inducted into the inaugural class of its Book of Great Teachers.

Dr. Susanne Hambrusch, Computer Science, Purdue University

Dr. Hambrusch is a Professor of Computer Science. She served as the Department Head from 2002 to 2007. From 2010 to 2013, she served as the Director of the Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) Division in the Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Directorate at NSF. Her research interests are in query and data management in mobile environments, computer science education, and design and analysis of algorithms. She has led two projects in computer science education, “Science Education in Computational Thinking (SECANT)” and “Computer Science for Education (CS4EDU).”

Phil Sands, Computer Science, Purdue University

Phil Sands is the K-12 Outreach Coordinator for Computer Science at Purdue University. Previously, Phil spent 6 years as a software engineer and 7 years teaching computer programming and statistics at high schools in Washington D.C. and Michigan. His focus is on expanding the opportunities for computer science education in Indiana and engaging underrepresented minorities in the field so that all students have the opportunity to participate.

Debbie Deborah Hagen, Independent Consultant

Deborah Hagen has been an educator at both the high school and college level. With a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a master’s degree in Computer Science, she has spent over 20 years teaching computer science and mathematics at both the high school and college level in Florida, Missouri and Indiana. Her current interest is in increasing the availability and improving the quality of Computer Science classes at the high school level.

Sarah Gretter, Educational Psychology & Educational Technology, Michigan State University

Sarah Gretter is a Ph.D. student in the department of Educational Psychology & Educational Technology. Her background is in cognition and learning, and her research interests are critical digital literacy, teacher training, and the cognitive-emotional impacts of technology on the learning brain.

yizhou Yizhou Qian, Learning Design and Technology, Purdue University

Yizhou Qian is a Ph.D. student in the department of Curriculum and Instruction. His research interest is in designing technology-based learning environments to support computer science instruction and learning in K-12. Before he came to Purdue, he was a computer science teacher in a high school in China and he taught gifted students.

Melanie Lotz, Computer Science, Purdue University

Melanie Lotz is a Master’s student in the Computer Science Department. She holds a BA degree in Mathematics and English and an MA in Linguistics. From 2011-14 she was a High School Math and Computer Science teacher at the Fulton County Schools in Georgia where she also taught the AP CS A course. She joined the CS Department at Purdue in 2014. Her research interests include Information Security and Cryptography, and she is passionate about learning and education.