Mosaic Freeschool

  • Home
  • Classes
    • Classes '22-'23
    • Past Classes
  • Facilitators
    • Mosaic Facilitators
    • Educator Network
  • Enroll
    • Admissions
    • Registration
    • Payment
  • Contact
  • Opportunities
  • Home
  • Classes
    • Classes '22-'23
    • Past Classes
  • Facilitators
    • Mosaic Facilitators
    • Educator Network
  • Enroll
    • Admissions
    • Registration
    • Payment
  • Contact
  • Opportunities

Mosaic Minutes

Computer Science Unplugged Class Summary 9/16/13

9/17/2013

 

Binary Code

Picture
with Leigh Ann Yoder

We are off to a great start in CSU, and WOW did we cover a lot this week! I started with an introduction to the class and an overview of some of the things we will be learning this semester. The goal of the class is to familiarize the students with computers which are EVERYWHERE in their lives. It makes sense to understand how they work. It is also important to think about the social issues, performance issues and human issues which computers present to us every day. All students will learn what the field of Computer Science really is, and hopefully, a few will become interested enough to pursue it further.  

We jumped right into our first unit called Data: The Raw Material. Students now understand the difference between data and information. Data is the raw material that computers work with and information is the real-world entity that is represented by the data. Our focus this week was how data is stored and transmitted as a series of zeros and ones, also known as binary numbers. The students applied the concept and learned how to represent words and numbers in binary code.

For fun, ask your student how high they can count using the fingers on just one hand (hint…the answer is not five) -- you might be surprised! Then ask them to show you how.

We had a mini-math lesson comparing the binary system to the decimal system. I only expect students to have a general understanding of these higher-level math concepts. Often I will teach concepts that I know are above many of the students, but this brief exposure will hopefully aid them as they progress in their studies. For students that are interested in learning more about number systems, here is a great video: 

If students want to practice the skill of converting numbers between binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal, here are some worksheets. They should have a basic understanding of how data is managed in RAM (electricity), on a hard drive (magnetism) and on DVD's (using light). They should also be familiar with the terms bit, byte, and ASCII. Most importantly, they should understand how a computer stores numbers and letters.

I told you we covered a lot! I hope the students enjoyed the first class and are excited to learn more about the field of Computer Science.
Picture
Learning about data, information and binary numbers!

Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Afternoon Enrichment
    Closures
    Clubs
    Early Elementary
    Mosaic Texas
    Odyssey Of The Mind
    Out Of This World
    Philosophy
    Tesserae Fall 2012
    Tesserae Fall 2013
    Tesserae Fall 2014
    Tesserae Spring 2013
    Tesserae Spring 2014
    Tesserae Spring 2015
    Tesserae Spring 2016

    Archives

    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from nojhan, Clay Gilliland, mynameisharsha, kim siciliano salem, matthewvenn, photogirl7.1, El Bibliomata, ~Brenda-Starr~, Anne Worner, Heather Bickle, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, Black.Dots., marta.b, Felipe Venâncio, A. Galassi, bibliojojo, Bibliothèque - Les Champs Libres - Rennes, Robert Hensley, opensourceway, Greenland Travel, est1996x, John-Morgan, camnjeanacess, plindberg, chrisjtse, Vox Efx, philosophygeek, utpala ॐ, Cea., Phil Roeder, andreazgarcia, stevecadman, laynasaur, Steve A Johnson, mattk1979, Tattooed Hippy, spacepleb, Mateus Hidalgo, Todd Binger, TRF_Mr_Hyde, ComputerHotline, Hampshire and Solent Museums, Ben Sutherland, philip_sheldrake, WeeLittlePiggy, echiner1, gruntzooki, emmeffe6, saoire, symphony of love, ups2006, Dave_B_, bobsfever, Kelly Short6, RichardBH, frau-Vogel, Skype Nomad, giopuo, Tomi Tapio