Conceptual Understandings and “Big Ideas” of Computing

Paul Chandler, Yarra Valley Grammar

paul.chandler@yvg.vic.edu.au

http://pdchandler.wikispaces.com

Deductive Approaches

Students are given definition of concepts which are followed by examples, questions and activities which illustrate the concept to be learned and which provide the opportunities for students to practise using the concept or new information.

Inductive Approaches

Students are provided with a range of experiences which gradually increase their familiarity with new concepts, before attempting to draw these together into a coherent understanding of the new concept.

Examples

Inductive approach to teachingInsight into “mental models”

At this point, a demonstration from Science was performed – dropping 2 balls of different mass from the same height – which one would land first? What does the answers which students give tell us about their mental model

Examples

Make learners' conceptions of computing (ie what's in their head) the object of study.

Based on this diagram, if shown a ‘window’ running either vnc, qemu or recorded session, where would you situate it? How could you tell the difference, and what does the answer tell us about mental models?

Once upon a time

Once upon a time – expositionNow – much experience, “digital natives”

But the “flat earth” model works fairly well most of the time

Mental models can be functional but inaccurate

You will become ‘unglued’ sometime

Probes and Examples

We need:Probes to discern mental modelsExamples which challenge prevailing

mental models

Our Pedagogy

What are the “teaching tactics” of ICT teachers?

Aim for a richer approach to teaching “computing”

Great Principles of Computing: http://cs.gmu.edu/cne/pjd/GP/GP-site/welcome.html

CS Unplugged: http://csunplugged.com/

Fluent in IT (FITness): http://www.cse.msu.edu/rgroups/cse101/FIE2000/fie2000.htm

Conceptual Development

Looking for Surprising Similarities

MenusLayersMouse operations

Patterns and Transferability

Which of the these is the most likely way to start the program “Mavis Beacon”?

(a) Type “RUN” on the keyboard

(b) Move the picture of the typewriter onto the picture of the hard disk

(c) Choose “File” from the menu bar at the top of the screen and click “Open”

(d) Point the mouse at the picture of the typewriter and click the mouse button once

Keeping it interesting

Explorer simulator

Big Ideas

Concepts = Examples/non-examplesLogging in

Model of the networkPasswordsConfidentialityTrustAuthentication Integrity

Where to from here?

Develop probes of conceptual understandings

Develop teaching approaches which take these conceptual understandings seriouslyConcept developmentSurprising similaritiesBig ideasGreat Principles

Where to from here?

Richer teaching approachesTeach it as if it’s “hard” rather than as if

it’s “easy”

In Summary

“If I had to reduce all of educational psychology to just one principle, I would say this: The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach him accordingly”(Ausubel, 1968, p. 18).