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The purpose of this presentation is to address some of the problematic ways we view computer science and computational thinking. Often times, people from minoritized communities are excluded from these spaces because of barriers and stereotypes. During this session, we want participants to explore ideas around computational thinking but in a new way. By using the educational tool Twine, we will have participants tell a story. While using the Twine app, the participants will practice using a basic computational thinking concept we like to call AC/DC (Algorithm & Control / Diversity & Context). By the end of the session, participants will know how to incorporate a storytelling educational tool (Twine) into their classrooms. Also, participants will know new ways to teach basic concepts surrounding computer science and computational thinking.
The presentation will take on the following structure:
1) Presentation of Content (25 minutes): We will present the AC/DC of computational thinking (Algorithms and Control/Diversity and Context) to help participants understand the foundations of the field. Special attention will be paid to the concept of "mirrors and windows" (Simms Bishop, 1990) for selecting appropriate culturally-relevant base stories.
2) Demonstrating Twine (15 minutes): We will show examples of existing culturally-relevant stories in Twine and demonstrate the basic process for adapting a story in Twine.
3) Guided Engagement with Twine (15 minutes): Participants will select an appropriate story to adapt for Twine's nonlinear format and then begin the process of building the story in Twine with computational thinking in mind.
4) Wrap-Up (5 minutes): Participants will be engaged in a discussion on their experiences with Twine and reflecting on connections with teaching computer science and computational thinking in an open and story-directed manner.
Gavin, A. (2015, July 21). Computer science education: Why does it suck so much and what if it didn’t? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jmN_tBS0t4
Lee, C., & Soep, E. (2023). Code for What? Computer Science for Storytelling and Social Justice. MIT Press.
Liukas, L. (2015, November 13). The poetry of programming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jRREn6ifEQ
Sims Bishop, R. (1990). Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors. Perspectives, 6(3). https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf