This project is partially sponsored by:

US Department of Education	National Science Foundation	Exxon

The Project

A silent revolution is changing the way computer science is understood, taught and used. In contrast to most high school curricula -- such as those adhering to the AP Computer Science syllabus -- which teach computing in terms of machine details and as a sequence of state changes, the modern approach leaves machine details to the implementation, and thinks of computing as an essentially algebraic process. This difference in approach has lead to a growing divide between high school- and college-level curricula.

We formed the TeachScheme! Project to narrow this gulf. The Project uses Rice's award-winning introductory computer science curriculum, which is at the forefront of this revolution. The free workshop familiarizes teachers with the essence of the curriculum, covering not only the material but also issues that arise when teaching it.

Eligibility

We welcome high school teachers who cover at least one of computer science, mathematics, and the physical sciences. We ask that you first contact your school to determine whether they will allow you to make curricular changes based on the summer course. (We aren't asking for a commitment from them or you; we only want to know whether you have the freedom to implement the ideas you find appealing.)

We also welcome college and university faculty, though we may not be able to offer them the same level of financial support (due to the nature of funds we have available).

Course Details

Duration: one week, Monday through Friday

Note: The last day or so of the workshop is usually dedicated to a single, extended, multi-part exercise. Attendees who want to get more practice with the material, with some assistance from the tutors, are welcome to spend Saturday in the labs. You may also find cheaper air-fares by staying over Saturday night.

Dates: first workshop, June 21-25; second workshop, July 26-30

Daily Schedule: 8am-5pm, with opportunity for experimentation in the evening. Each half of the day is divided into two sessions. The first session consists of classroom lecture and discussion; in the second session, participants work in computer labs to study and implement the material discussed in the classroom.

Materials

The course uses the (draft) book How to Design Programs: An Introduction to the Principles of Programming and Computing. It is suitable as a high school text book and has been used in previous field tests. In addition, the course uses DrScheme, which is a programming environment developed for use in introductory programming courses. Both the text and the programming environment are freely available on-line --

Instructional Staff

Rice and Houston

Costs and Registration

The summer course and the materials are free; there is no deposit or registration fee. The cost is borne by the TeachScheme! sponsors, including the US Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and Exxon Corporation.

The workshop also provides continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. Participants are responsible for dining and hotels. There are motels near campus that offer special rates to participants, and we help put teachers seeking roommates in touch with each other.