Week of January 1st - 5th, 2018

Due to the snow days on Thursday and Friday, the paper will be now due on Monday, Jan 8th. 

Monday:
Happy New Year!

Tuesday:
Return Computer Systems tests

Intro to computer algorithms:
Algorithm: "a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer." "In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is a self-contained step-by-step set of operations to be performed." In other words, an algorithm is a very specific recipe.
Video: What is an Algorithm and Why Should You Care?
Video: The Smartest Elevators
Demonstrate Conway's Game of Life:

• Any live cell with fewer than two live neighbours dies 
• Any live cell with more than three live neighbours dies 
• Any dead cell with exactly three live neighbours becomes a live cell 

Demonstrate selection sort vs merge sort

Introduce Processing.py
You can download processing here.   To add the Python mode: Start up processing.  Click on Java in the upper right-hand corner, and click "Add mode..."  Select Python, and click install.

Wednesday:

Flip day - 2-1-4-3 for PARCC

Begin drawing project

Thursday, Friday:
Snow days. . . 

Original plan:Thursday:

Continue to work on drawing project
(drawing project due by the end of lunch next Tuesday)

Friday:

Flip day - 2-1-4-3 for PARCC

Due today: "Social Impacts of Robotics and AI" paper due at beginning of class - on paper and via turnitin.  Please be sure that you have considered both positive and negative aspects.You have the option of turning the paper in on Monday, January 8th, for a 4% grade penalty.  After Monday, the penalty will be 8% per day.

Week of December 18th - 22nd, 2017

Monday:

Review for test on computer hardware, history, operating systems
In Your Face: China's all-seeing state
Introduce Arduino, begin working on Sparkfun Inventor's Kit exercises

Tuesday:
Test on computer hardware, history, operating systems, basic electronics
AI/Robotics presentation topics due by 11:30

Wednesday:
Continue with Arduino worksheet

Thursday:
Everyone working on Arduino worksheet

Friday:
(alumni day, short periods)
Wrap up Arduino worksheet.  Those who are done can work on AI paper.

Week of December 11th - 15th, 2017

Monday:
Homework for today: hardware vocab
Turn in Machine Learning paper with 4% grade penalty

Discuss computer chips, Moore's Law
Videos:
How do they make computer chips?
Zoom into a microchip
(also: Photolithography)

Introduce Soldering: How To Solder video, in-class worksheet
Discuss basic electronics - circuits, resistors, capacitors, LEDs, transistors

Tuesday:
Soldering lab

Wednesday (flip day, 2-1-4-3):
Experiment with the Visible Computer - Class handout
Booting a computer
Discuss modern computer history: 1960s to today.
How does a hard drive work?

Thursday:
Homework for today: Read 'How operating systems work', turn in OS vocabulary
Introduce operating systems: two roles, five jobs of an OS: processor management, memory and storage management, device management, application interface, and user interface.
Try System Information and Activity Monitor apps.
Do hands-on OS with terminal window

Friday:
Introduce file names and paths.

Complete OS discussion, watch user interface videos:
Google Home (3:54)
Project Milo (3:53)
Microsoft HoloLens (4:11)
Toybox demo for Oculus Touch (0:52)
Brain-Computer Interface (4:54)
Give out review sheet for test next Tuesday on computer hardware, history, operating systems, basic electronics

Week of December 4th - 8th, 2017

Monday:
Homework for today: finish all 12 problems in Warmup-1, and do at least 5 problems from Logic-1, String-1, and List-1. This will be treated as a homework assignment. Make sure you are logged in before you start! Otherwise I won't have any evidence that you completed it.
In class: computer dissection
Hand out computer hardware vocab (due Monday, Dec 11th), Cartoon Guide to the Computer
Any remaining time used for working on computer hardware vocab 

Tuesday:
Homework for today: Read Cartoon Guide to the Computer handout through page 64.
Introduce computer hardware basics - input, output, storage, processing worksheet in class
Begin discussing history of computers - Jacquard, Babbage, Lovelace, Hollerith, WW II computers
Videos:
Babbage's Difference Engine
The Queen of Code
ENIAC
(optional: Getting Busted in NJ with Core Memory)

Wednesday:
Homework for today: Finish reading Cartoon Guide to the Computer
Review for Python subroutine quiz (entire period)

Thursday:
Python subroutine quiz (one hour max)
Continue with computer history and hardware discussion
Continue with history of computers up through the 50s.
Video:
SAGE

Friday:
(Short period due to knee replacement distance learning)
Homework for today: Machine learning paper due
Introduce computer bus and bus services