Computer science is often taught as an isolated discipline and not integrated into other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses, reducing the number of students who learn to code.
Bootstrap seeks to change that. Based at Brown University, the nationwide program gives teachers better tools to integrate computing into their classrooms. CSE has been part of the program for nearly a decade and in early August, CSE assistant teaching professor Joseph Politz led a group of San Diego Unified School District math and science teachers through a three-day seminar.
“We want students to use programming as a tool because modern mathematicians, statisticians and physicists use programming as a tool,” says Politz. “A lot of what we’re trying to do with the teachers is show them how programming ideas align with subject content.”
Nobody designed the education system to keep computing separate from physics, math and other disciplines. But too often, teachers lack the coding experience – and time – to build programming into their lesson plans. That’s where Bootstrap steps in.
The program started with algebra but branched out over time. This year’s San Diego workshop focused mostly on statistics and data science.
In the workshop, the teachers designed assignments to engage their students. In data science, students queried a dataset, asking questions like: Which cereal is healthiest? Which is the best baseball team? In physics, they simulated brakes on a self-driving car, the thrust and falling forces on a lunar lander or a bouncing ball. In algebra, they brought in the distance formula to detect collisions in a video game or used linear and exponential functions to model different rocket speeds.
Because it’s included in required courses, rather than electives, Bootstrap reaches many students who would never dream of taking a computer science course.
In the bigger picture it also helps kids learn. One study found Bootstrap improved students’ algebra skills. Another paper showed more generalized math benefits. Add on the increased student engagement, and it’s a winning formula. San Diego Unified has seen these benefits and wants to take the program even farther.
“We are partnering with the district to make this a more formalized part of the curriculum in math and science classes,” says Politz. “We want to make integrated computing an option that teachers in the district are comfortable reaching for.” Read more.