December 14th Programming Contest Registration Open

Registration is now open for the December 14th programming contest!  See the programming contests page for the registration form and more details.

The event, generously sponsored by TEALS and Microsoft, will take place at the University of Washington Paul Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering.  Check-in starts at 8:30am and the award ceremony will finish at around 2:30pm.  Students will solve programming problems in teams of 3 using the programming language of their choice.  They will also hear a brief talk by UW professor Kate Starbird.

The registration cost is $30 which includes lunch and snacks.  Need-based scholarships are available.

Registration closes when we reach 85 teams or on 12/9, whichever comes first.

Flyer

Next PSCSTA Meeting Sat, 11/16: Nifty Lessons

• Topic: Nifty Lessons hosted by Greg Kilpatrick
• Date: Saturday, November 16, 2013, 10 am - 12 n followed by socializing and networking 12 − 1 pm
• Place: UW, Paul Allen Center for CSE  (Directions & Parking)

Resources/Notes:

• Create an animal logic puzzle program (Mark E’s idea) - http://mamialmo.com/AnimaLogic/Animalogic.htm
• Animalogic Rules
• Cryptography (from Mark: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cryptoclub-Using-Mathematics-Secret/dp/156881223X, andhttp://www.cryptoclub.org/)
• Fibbonacci flowers (http://www.susanrevans.com/blog/2012/01/16/, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahXIMUkSXX0, http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/2277214)
• Handouts (.ZIP)

This month’s meeting is about Nifty Lessons — lessons that you think teach a CS or CS-related concept and actively engage students.  WE NEED YOU to make this session a success.  We are looking for volunteers to share a nifty lesson.  Some topic suggestions are:

• A cool Java program you build with the class in an AP-type course (examples: ball falling or roulette programs from CSE 142 or using Facebook API in 143)
• A CS Unplugged mini-lesson (it could be straight from CS Unplugged -- seeing it done is different from reading about it!)
• Something on an advanced topic like software engineering or HCI (design exercise)
• Something from a CS Principles type of course
• A fun activity that's peripherally related to CS (puzzles, ballparking, rubic's cubes)

Two clock hours will be provided for the workshop portion.

Contact Greg Kilpatrick if you are interested in sharing something nifty!