Teaching CS unplugged in the high school (with limited success)

Authors:
Yvon Feaster;Luke Segars;Sally K. Wahba;Jason O. Hallstrom
Affiliations:
Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA;UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA;Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA;Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
Venue:
Proceedings of the 16th annual joint conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education
Year:
2011

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Abstract

CS Unplugged is a set of active learning activities designed to introduce fundamental computer science principles without the use of computers. The program has gained significant momentum in recent years, with proponents citing deep engagement and enjoyment benefits. With these benefits in mind, we initiated a one-year outreach program involving a local high school, using the CS Unplugged program as the foundation. To our disappointment, the results were at odds with our enthusiasm --- significantly. In this paper, we describe our approach to adapting the CS Unplugged materials for use at the high school level, present our experiences teaching it, and summarize the results of our evaluation.