TY - GEN
T1 - MPCT - Media Propelled Computational Thinking
AU - Freudenthal, Eric Andrew
AU - Roy, Mary K.
AU - Ogrey, Alexandria Nicole
AU - Magoc, Tanja
AU - Siegel, Alan
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Media-Propelled Computational Thinking (MPCT - pronounced impact) is a course designed to introduce programming in the context of engaging problems in media computation, math, and physics. Programming concepts are introduced as incremental steps needed to solve pragmatic problems students already understand. The problems, graphical API, and hands-on program features are intended to expose fundamental concepts in mathematics and quantitative science. MPCT is offered in an entering students program for freshmen who plan to specialize in a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and non-STEM subjects. The curriculum is intended to strengthen student intuition and interest in mathematical modeling and programming by engaging students in the direct manipulation of simple mathematical systems that model and display familiar physical phenomena. MPCT uses programs as concrete and manipulatable examples of fundamental concepts to engage a diverse range of students including women and underrepresented minorities. Variants of MPCT are being developed for high schools, and as a means to introduce computational science to upper division undergraduates studying non-computational STEM disciplines. This paper provides an overview of MPCT and representative problem studies including models of ballistics and resonant systems. The evaluation plan is described and very preliminary results are presented.
AB - Media-Propelled Computational Thinking (MPCT - pronounced impact) is a course designed to introduce programming in the context of engaging problems in media computation, math, and physics. Programming concepts are introduced as incremental steps needed to solve pragmatic problems students already understand. The problems, graphical API, and hands-on program features are intended to expose fundamental concepts in mathematics and quantitative science. MPCT is offered in an entering students program for freshmen who plan to specialize in a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and non-STEM subjects. The curriculum is intended to strengthen student intuition and interest in mathematical modeling and programming by engaging students in the direct manipulation of simple mathematical systems that model and display familiar physical phenomena. MPCT uses programs as concrete and manipulatable examples of fundamental concepts to engage a diverse range of students including women and underrepresented minorities. Variants of MPCT are being developed for high schools, and as a means to introduce computational science to upper division undergraduates studying non-computational STEM disciplines. This paper provides an overview of MPCT and representative problem studies including models of ballistics and resonant systems. The evaluation plan is described and very preliminary results are presented.
KW - CS-zero
KW - Computational thinking
KW - First year programs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952230350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77952230350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/1734263.1734276
DO - 10.1145/1734263.1734276
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77952230350
SN - 9781605588858
T3 - SIGCSE'10 - Proceedings of the 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
SP - 37
EP - 41
BT - SIGCSE'10 - Proceedings of the 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
T2 - 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, SIGCSE'10
Y2 - 10 March 2010 through 13 March 2010
ER -