No. 45 - 15 *old* ideas for CS ED Week 🕹️ AMA 🙋 Blueprints of Intelligence
Did photography or prompt engineering kill art?
My name is Linda. I write a bi-weekly (well, honestly more like monthly) newsletter about computer science, childhood and culture - and there are 9 687 of you listening. If you enjoy this issue, please share it with anyone you think may find it useful.
Happy December - and congratulations Finland, 105 years old today!
In school world it’s almost the end of the year, but for computer science educators one of the busiest time of the year: the annual CSEdweek and Hour of Code is here. Last year I made a little collection of 15 ideas for CSEdWeek from the Love Letters series. They are still really nice. And for any parent, educator or caregiver, here is a list of 24 ideas for the holiday season for a computer science themed December.
Still recycling from last year, and as there are many new readers here, I wanted to repeat the AMA from last December:
Almost every year on Instagram I’ve done a Q&A session on a long flight/layover (2018/2019, 2020). These Q&As have been a lovely way to reflect and notice how I have changed. Last year I think I expanded several answers into entire letters.
I was thinking of doing something similar for the next edition of this newsletter, so if you have questions, you can reply below or shoot me an e-mail. I’ll keep questions anonymous and use the first letter of your first name. So, ask me anything!
Linked List
In computer science, a linked list is a linear collection of data elements whose order is not given by their physical placement in memory. But here it is a selection of things I’ve been reading lately.
Three links that expand on previous letters - surely this is one of the best things about writing openly, the ability to look back and attach new ideas to old ones. :
Lost Women of Science: Klári Von Neumann. I finally got around to listening to this podcast series on Klári - it’s beautifully researched, produced and opens a whole new way of looking at computing history. Much recommended (No. 34 — Next up: Klári 🔎 The Case of the Slow Websites 🥐 Activités en français).
Blueprints for Intelligence. A visual history of AI told through a collection of diagrams - super fascinating and thorough work by Philipp Schmitt (No. 40 — Making AI visible 👀 Struggles with the strange 🏘️ Fictional livability index).
Comparisons are odorous. I like this parallel between image generators and photography + Alan Jacobs’ always thoughtful look into history to understand future (No. 44 — Prompt Engineering 🪄 Art Pedagogy 🎨 Evolution of Pokemon).
Classroom
I’m hoping to surface and share stories from all of you and I’d love to see your creations! Here are a few teachers using Ruby in creative, fun and inspiring ways.
Holiday themes activities by Irene!
Tobias building on the ideas of the K-2 Curriculum by CS in SF (love when this happens!)
Seems like there was a great workshop in Prague around robots, AI and imagining futures with them. I love especially the photo around the kitchen table.