ERIC Number: EJ973331
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jan
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0731-9258
EISSN: N/A
Tri-P-LETS: Changing the Face of High School Computer Science
Sherrell, Linda; Malasri, Kriangsiri; Mills, David; Thomas, Allen; Greer, James
Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, v31 n1 p61-85 Jan 2012
From 2004-2007, the University of Memphis carried out the NSF-funded Tri-P-LETS (Three P Learning Environment for Teachers and Students) project to improve local high-school computer science curricula. The project reached a total of 58 classrooms in eleven high schools emphasizing problem solving skills, programming concepts as opposed to syntax, and the use of a disciplined process. Graduate student Fellows from the university worked closely with local high-school teachers, being present in their classrooms as well as developing new lesson materials. Participating teachers used the AgentSheets simulation software to teach basic programming ideas and Lego Mindstorms robots to introduce students to object-oriented programming. This article describes some assignments used in the classroom and discusses how modern software engineering principles were integrated into the curriculum. It also presents the results from student and teacher evaluations of the project. (Contains 3 tables and 9 figures.)
Descriptors: Workshops, Inservice Teacher Education, Partnerships in Education, Secondary School Teachers, Assignments, Teacher Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Graduate Students, College School Cooperation, High School Students, Federal Programs, Secondary School Curriculum, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Implementation, Computer Science Education, Programming, Computer Software, Robotics, Computer Games, Program Evaluation, Program Descriptions, STEM Education, Student Surveys, Worksheets, Computer Simulation, Science Careers, Career Awareness
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. P.O. Box 1545, Chesapeake, VA 23327. Tel: 757-366-5606; Fax: 703-997-8760; e-mail: info@aace.org; Web site: http://www.aace.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education; Elementary Secondary Education; High Schools; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Tennessee
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A