JavaScript Conquered the Web. Now It’s Taking Over the Desktop | WIRED

Posted on May 13, 2016 by jdioguardi

JAVASCRIPT WAS ORIGINALLY created in 1995 to give web pages a little more pep than the tag could provide. Today it has far more powerful uses. Companies like Google and Facebook build complex, desktop-like web applications with JavaScript; since the launch of Node.js in 2009, it’s also become one of the most popular languages for building server-side software. Today, even the web isn’t big enough to contain JavaScript’s versatility: it’s now making its way into applications for the desktop.

Electron is a software development platform created by Github that lets developers use JavaScript along with other web technologies like HTML and CSS to create desktop applications that can run on Windows, Macintosh OS X, and Linux. The company released the first full version of Electron yesterday. But some of tech’s biggest names have already put the tool to work to push JavaScript beyond the browser.

Source: JavaScript Conquered the Web. Now It’s Taking Over the Desktop | WIRED

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#YesWeCode

Posted on May 5, 2016 by jdioguardi

#YesWeCode is a national initiative to help teach 100K low-opportunity youth to code. Many have been searching for ways to uplift today’s urban youth and help them achieve a more promising future. We believe that one solution lies in connecting tech and social justice leaders to spearhead revolutionary tech programs whose benefits extend to the most disadvantaged of society.

Source: Our Story & Mission

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Oracle bolsters computer science education | eSchool News

Posted on April 22, 2016 by jdioguardi

Part of $3.3 billion annual investment to advance computer science education and increase diversity in technology fields globally

In conjunction with The White House Science Fair 2016, Oracle and The White House recently announced Oracle’s plan to invest $200 million in direct and in-kind support for computer science education in the United States over the next 18 months.Oracle’s pledge supports the Administration’s Computer Science for All initiative and is part of the company’ greater annual worldwide investment of $3.3 billion to empower computer science educators and engage diverse student populations globally. Today’s commitment expects to reach more than 232,000 students in over 1,100 U.S. institutions through Oracle Academy, its philanthropic computer science-focused educational program that impacts more than 2.6 million students in 106 countries.
Source: Oracle bolsters computer science education | eSchool News

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Edhesive

Posted on March 30, 2016 by jdioguardi

An online AP Computer Science course for high schools aligned specifically to College Board’s Advanced Placement Computer Science A Exam.

Our unique approach is driven by our belief that online learning has the power to reach all learners regardless of their location or resources, yet can only succeed if students feel a personal connection to it. Our coaches, who are often teachers at local schools and are not required to have expertise in our course subject, meet with students regularly to inspire, challenge and guide them through the process. In doing so, students are enriched and motivated to do the work of learning in ways that technology alone cannot do.

Source: Edhesive

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You Can Solve Quantum Mechanics’ Classic Particle in a Box Problem With Code | WIRED

Posted on March 25, 2016 by jdioguardi

RHETT ALLAIN SCIENCE  03.25.16. 2:31 PM.

HUMANS HAVE PROBLEMS with quantum mechanics. We have excellent intuition about the motion of a tennis ball tossed in the air, but what about an electron trapped in a box? The tendency is to use the same tennis ball rules and apply it to the electron—but it doesn’t work. We have to use different models to explain properties of very very small things. We call this quantum mechanics (as opposed to classical mechanics).

Of course I can’t go over all the details of quantum mechanics, so let me give you the abridged version.

Source: You Can Solve Quantum Mechanics’ Classic Particle in a Box Problem With Code | WIRED

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CS Fundamentals for grades K-5 | Code.org Code Studio

Posted on March 23, 2016 by jdioguardi

Code.org has developed an elementary school curriculum that allows even the youngest students to explore the limitless world of computing – at no cost for schools. The courses blend online, self-guided and self-paced tutorials with “unplugged” activities that require no computer at all. Each course consists of about 20 lessons that may be implemented as one unit or over the course of a semester. Even kindergarten-aged pre-readers can participate.
Source: CS Fundamentals for grades K-5 | Code.org

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Play Tidepool

Posted on March 23, 2016 by jdioguardi

Tidepool, a programmable game world for kids.

Source: Play Tidepool – About

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K12CS – A Framework for K-12 Computer Science Education

Posted on March 22, 2016 by jdioguardi

As interest and growth in K-12 computer science education spreads, states and school districts are asking a common question: What do students need to know and be able to do in K-12 computer science? The ACM, CSTA, Code.org, CIC, and NMSI have joined forces with more than 100 advisors within the computing community (higher ed faculty, researchers, K-12 teachers), several states and large school districts, technology companies, and other organizations to steer a process to develop conceptual guidelines for states and districts creating a K-12 pathway in computer science.Code.org and ACM are providing funding for this effort. The framework is slated for release in Summer 2016.

Source: About – A Framework for K-12 Computer Science Education

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Robomatter, Inc.

Posted on March 22, 2016 by jdioguardi

Teaching the Language of Innovation

At Robomatter, we use the motivational effects of robotics to excite students about computer science, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. ROBOTS and ROBOTICS integrate math, science, engineering, and technology in ways that motivate and excite students. Our goal is to provide easy-to-use robotics educational learning resources, many created under license from and in association with Carnegie Mellon University.

Source: About Us | Robomatter, Inc.

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BBC micro:bit : Want to know a bit more about BBC micro:bit?

Posted on March 22, 2016 by jdioguardi

You can use your BBC micro:bit for all sorts of cool creations, from robots to musical instruments – the possibilities are endless. The micro:bit is a handheld, fully programmable computer being given free to every Year 7 or equivalent child across the UK. It’s 70 times smaller and 18 times faster than the original BBC Micro computers used in schools in the early 1980s.

This little device has an awful lot of features, like 25 red LED lights that can flash messages. There are two programmable buttons that can flash messages. There are two programmable buttons that can be used to control games or pause and skip songs on a playlist. Your BBC micro:bit can detect motion and tell you which direction you’re heading in, and it can use a low energy Bluetooth connection to interact with other devices and the Internet – clever!

Source: BBC micro:bit : Want to know a bit more about BBC micro:bit?

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