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Updating Introductory Computer Science with Creative Computation

Published:21 February 2018Publication History

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on the results of a multi-year project in which we identified essential pedagogy and curriculum for teaching introductory computing courses focused on Creative Computation using Processing. The curriculum aligns with a traditional 'CS1' approach as well as 'AP CS A', and goes well beyond "CS Principles" standards to teach foundations of computer science and programming. We addressed the bridge between high school and entry-level college curriculum in computer science (American freshman high school to freshman college) and demonstrated how algorithmic art provides a powerful vehicle for diverse student populations within a broad range of pedagogical frameworks ranging from traditional structured classrooms to inquiry-based student-driven project labs. A secondary result is that instructors require long-term engagement with mentors to extend their own knowledge of computing, visual arts and appropriate pedagogy.

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    • Published in

      cover image ACM Conferences
      SIGCSE '18: Proceedings of the 49th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
      February 2018
      1174 pages
      ISBN:9781450351034
      DOI:10.1145/3159450

      Copyright © 2018 ACM

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      Association for Computing Machinery

      New York, NY, United States

      Publication History

      • Published: 21 February 2018

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      SIGCSE '18 Paper Acceptance Rate161of459submissions,35%Overall Acceptance Rate1,595of4,542submissions,35%

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