Computer Science

Growth Mindset : Revisited

/ Anna Diemecke / Leave a comment

In order to create significant learning environments, learners must remain positive in the face of challenges and believe in themselves. When learners develop a growth mindset, they have the opportunity to learn everything imaginable in authentic contexts, recognizing that their learning is limitless and intelligence is not fixed (Dweck 2017). Dweck firmly believes that the growth mindset recognizes that learning is the result of effort, not of natural ability. This helps learners understand that there is no such thing as “can’t” because dedication and hard work lead to success (2017).

​The power of YET concept is huge to me, as we all know that as part of Computer Science classes, coding is a part of it and most of the students are scared of the idea of not learning. A student who studies computer science cites a bundle of reasons why students drop out, lack of practical skills, inability to keep up with the workload, and difficulty with understanding (Whitmore, 2022). “A computer science class is clearly no walk in the park” (Whitmore, 2022, p. 1). When students are engaged, they are more likely to excel in core instruction and less likely to need an academic intervention (Toth, 2021).

I will model a growth mindset and I will be persistent, I will keep going as  I know that my students can learn as long as I am providing them with significant learning and opportunities for growth. Because of brain plasticity, learners can grow through challenges to learn new concepts and skills (Dweck, 2016).


Grit can be misconstrued as being hard-headed if we do not embrace change. But I believe that with grit, I will not give up developing my growth mindset and my student growth mindset. I would like for my students to understand that mistakes are part of learning, I always tell my students that Errors are part of learning, we debug codes and corrected them and that is how we learn. I know talking about a growth mindset, and modeling it is still not going to be enough, but with the consistency of embracing mistakes as a part of the learning process and with the consistency of creating a significant learning environment.

References:

Duckworth, A. L. [TED]. (2013, May 9). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance .

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House.

​Whitman, G. (2014, August 06). The power of yet. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/power​76

Whitmore, R. (2022, April 12). Why is computer science so hard? Online Schools Report.   Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://www.onlineschoolsreport.com/why-is-computer-science-so-hard/

Toth, M. D. (2021, May 14). Why student engagement is important in a post-COVID world. Learning Sciences International. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://www.learningsciences.com/blog/why-is-student-engagement-important/

Cyberbullying is A MUST Lesson

/ Anna Diemecke / Leave a comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtfMzmkYp9E

Cyberbullying has been rampant nowadays, for the reason that students do not know how to become good digital citizens. It is something that I as an educator can be a part of prevention. According to Hinduja and Patchin (2015), cyberbullying is “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices” (p. 11). Essentially, cyberbullying is bullying through the means of electronics. If you are being mean on a screen, you are cyberbullying. Brewer and Kerslake (2015) remark that the main difference between traditional bullying and cyberbullying is that cyberbullying happens quickly, is permanent and makes victims more available. Unlike traditional bullying where students could escape the bully by running home, cyberbullying has no escape because the Internet is always with us through our devices.

 As a technology teacher, I always include cyberbullying as part of my lesson, always at the beginning of the year.  I believe that it is my duty to teach awareness to my students, how to acknowledge the cyberbullying act, how not to be a cyberbully, and how to prevent cyberbullying.

Thus, I would like to influence my fellow educator to do the same, and together we can STOP CYBERBULLYING.

 

References:

Brewer, G., & Kerslake, J. (2015). Cyberbullying, self-esteem, empathy and loneliness. Computers in Human Behavior, 48, 255-260. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.01.073

Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2015). Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

StopBullyingGov. (2021, August 24). Is it cyberbullying? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtfMzmkYp9E

YouTube. (2020, January 28). Cyberbullying – how to avoid cyber abuse. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMdKmHjpgFk

  

 

Is Computer Science is HARD?

/ Anna Diemecke / Leave a comment

Computer Science is a hard discipline to learn. According to the research:

  1. Students who are weak in mathematics tend to be weak in programming and therefore weak in Computer Science.
  2. Students tend to be unprepared for the constructive nature of the Computer Science discipline.

Many students are not motivated or prepared to invest this amount of time. They are looking for an “easy” discipline that “allows them time for significant extra-curricular or social activities.” They don’t believe that they can have a fulfilling social life in college while putting in this amount of time to study. Fortunately, students who are motivated to invest the necessary time often find that they can also fit in active extra-curricular or social calendars and still be satisfied.

But I believe that just like any principle or study if you are motivated and devotee sufficient time to studying the discipline, then it is possible to learn Computer Science. The only difference is that Computer Science  students must utilize really good time management skills, and must plan for these extra-curricular and social activities. If you think of it, everything that evolves in technology right now is because of computer science. Yes, it is hard but with growth mindset and dedication, any student can pass this classes and be the future computer scientist.

References :

Is computer science hard? Lindenwood University. (n.d.). https://www.lindenwood.edu/science/mathematics-computer-science-and-information-technology/computer-science/prospective-students/is-computer-science-hard/

Disruptive Innovation : Future of Education

/ Anna Diemecke / Leave a comment

There is a saying that change is constant, it is inevitable, it is a way of life. Change is vital for the improvement of one’s success or ideas. If the ways or processes are not adaptable to the current situation, a change is a must in order for us to catch up with our surroundings or environment. Sir Kent Robinson mentioned Education needs to be reformed, it needs to be revolutionized, and it needs to be transformed into something else. And, with the use of technology and great teachers, we will be able to customize each individual learning. As launched and explained by Horn, Disruptive Innovation such as Blended Learning is an excellent innovation that caters to different formats of learning that can be offered towards the individual needs of a student.

As a technology teacher blended learning really helps me reach out to my students, lessons, exams, and lectures are readily available even if they will not show up to my class. I know that there is still room for improvement with the use of different learning management system, as some of them does not cater to individual learning. But I am optimistic that these hiccups will be solved with the changing technology and reconstruction of instruction and curriculums, with the help of our educators and administrations.

Currently, my school district would like to offer Computer Science and promote it to our students. I am looking forward to fulfilling that role this coming school year. With that being said I will have the opportunities to explore different styles of blended learning and learn and teach coding programs.

I believed that changes in the educational system will be effective if all the people involved are willing to embrace and accepts Disruptive Innovations and consider that not every student learns the same way and in the same phase.

REFERENCE

Horn, M. B., Staker, H., & Christensen, C. M. (2015). Blended: Using disruptive innovation to improve schools. Jossey-Bass.