Coding for All @ GenCyber

As a past Presidential Awardee, I was invited to attend a 3 day GenCyber "camp." I agreed knowing very little about coding, how to integrate coding into the classroom, and nothing about cyber security. Reading the homepage of the website caught my attention in several ways:

The GenCyber program provides summer cybersecurity camp experiences for students and teachers at the K-12 level. The goals of the program are to help all students understand correct and safe on-line behavior, increase diversity and interest in cybersecurity and careers in the cybersecurity workforce of the Nation, and improve teaching methods for delivering cybersecurity content in K-12 computer science curricula.

Our vision is for the GenCyber program to be part of the solution to the Nation's shortfall of skilled cybersecurity professionals. Ensuring that enough young people are inspired to direct their talents in this area is critical to the future of our country’s national and economic security as we become even more reliant on cyber-based technology in every aspect of our daily lives.

To ensure a level playing field, GenCyber camps are open to all student and teacher participants at no cost. Funding is provided jointly by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation.

We started with a presentation by Captain Cliff Bean, Commander of NSA Hawaii (in Wahiawa). My takeaways from his talk:

• need to create computer capacity in HI; 20% vacancy in the civilian force re. technical talent
• need to start with younger students
• "keys to the network are the keys to the kingdom" - key is not having a criminal record
• information age is not a fad - impacts all aspects of our lives
• technology is vast, fast, and decaying - YouTube Did You Know?
• 7 bill people on planet, 2 bill online every day
• in 1991 would have taken 16 days to download Lib of Cong; 0.0004 sec today
• amt of technical data is doubling every two years - outdated every two years
• to get technical companies to invest in HI, need to build workforce

The focus of the presentations to the PAEMST awardees last summer was on Big Data and STEM education, which includes computer science.

President Obama recognizes the value of GenCyber as the 4th R (computer science just as important as reading and writing.  CS is core to every occupation.  GenCyber is an investment by NSA.  There are 64,000 jobs in cybersecurity and IT in the US.

Ojective of cybersecurity - prevent, deter, detect, and react to keep the world (phone, computer, clasroom) safe.

Most dangerous sites to visit: frequented by students

1. porn
2. song lyrics - generally not legal
3. game cheats
4. celebrity sites - info about

Activities and Resources

• Snap Circuits 
  
• Little Bits
• Common Sense Media - online safety guide; great for use in health classes (mental/emotional health and well-being)
• Copyright and fair use animation
• full lesson plans
• Kahoot
• Quizizz
• Ozobots
  
• Computer Science unplugged
• Engineering Design Process from NASA
  
• Cubelets
• Code.org
• Code Combat 
• game programmed using Python
• no need to sign in/create an account

AP Calculus Reading '16

Unless you've been there, it's probably hard to imagine the excitement of arriving in Kansas City, MO (MCI) along with 900 other calculus teachers for the annual AP Calculus Reading.

The airport in KC is small and each plane that arrives is unloading more teachers excited for the week. Some are returning, while others are "acorns," or first timers. Reuniting with friends, recognizing old faces, and even eavesdropping on ebullient conversations about the past year reminds us why we're there.

There are 6 free response questions that must be read in 7 days. The work day starts at 8am and ends promptly at 5pm. There is a 15 minute morning break, an hour lunch, and another 15 minute afternoon break.  Each has FREE unlimited food and drink available. AFter sitting for a couple of hours, I choose to take a sparkling water from the cooler and walk until break is over.

Question Leaders (QL) and Table Leaders (TL) arrive several days before the Readers to finalize the rubric for each question. The briefing for each question (worth 9 points) takes 90 minutes. The QLs go over every possible scenario/solution and explain how points (if any) will be distributed.  I return to my pod of 16 Readers and two TLs to begin work on the first question. With my table partner, we run through the first few questions together before we begin chipping away at the 4 million questions ahead of us.

Being a Reader

• reassured me that each student's paper would be read the same by every Reader.
• convinced me that it's nearly impossible to read your own students' papers.
• helped me understand better which concepts students might have difficulty with.
• has given me an opportunity to spend 8 days with others just as passionate as I am about calculus.  We talk about teaching calculus, learning calculus, trying to understand what students are trying to communicate, and even raving about the "perfect" solutions, even when we aren't "working."
• has connected me on social media with calculus teachers who have become "friends."
• has made me really appreciate and respect my students' discipline and motivation.
• has given me more tools for teaching calculus. At any time, I can ask a question and get so many different teaching strategies and ideas.
• is an opportunity and privilege.
• satisfies my annual craving for BBQ.
• reunites me with my PAEMST classmates - Patrick Flynn (KS) and Allysen Lovstuen (IA).

Every calculus teacher should apply to be a College Board Reader.  It's hard to describe unless you've been there.

bring your math t's

KC Convention Center

my fave shuttlebus

Patrick and Allysen

HI colleagues

Arthur Bryant's this year