HW2 - Make a Program From Home

So this weekend, you need to write your own program at home, save it, and upload it to your Google Drive CS folder.

Some very basic requirements for your program.  Your program must:
  - be more than one line, multiple print commands
  - you must add two strings together
  - you must multiply a string somewhere

  - it must run and work with no errors
  - the File should be named HW2-YourName.py

From Python, File->New  to make your new program.
Test your program using Run -> Run Module

Save the file, to your documents or your desktop (but it says at title of your python window where it is being saved)  and upload your file to your google drive shared folder.

Good luck my fellow programmers!

Warm Up 2/28 - Viruses Trojans and Worms ... OH MY!!!

We started talking about it yesterday, and I decided one of the first themes we are going to focus on in terms of social impact is going to be Internet and Internet Security.  So let's start with a real discussion about the types of risks that exist today.

[There are 3 parts to this warm up btw!]

First Breaking news: researchers just discovered a virus that could potentially even more dangerous than usual.

Start your warm up by reading that short article, and tell me in 2-3 sentences about that new virus called Chameleon, tell me what is special and what it can do.

Then, let's start breaking down some of the different types.  Use THIS Lifehacker.com article to help your understanding.  As you read, I would like you to write a blurb about each type of malware.  Tell me the difference between: virus', spyware, scareware, trojans, and worms.  Remember, I am asking you to figure out the difference between each type.

Lastly: this inofographic is pretty freaking cool.  You might want to zoom in a little [right click the image and select View in New Tab], but lets finish by talking about some of the famous ones in history.

Don't get sick!!!!

HW2 - Install Python on Your Home Computer - Take a Picture to Prove it

Tonight is simple, you need to install the program we used today in class.  Python.

Head over to http://www.python.org/ and go in to the Download's Section.  The page will detect automatically if you are on a Mac or on Windows.  You want to install version 3.3 (not the 2.X version)

(Note: if you are Windows, you need to know if you are on an x64 or x86 windows install.  Typically older comps will be x86, newer ones are x64.  You can try either one to see which one works)

Because you are installing a program, confirm with your parents that this is an assignment for class, so you don't get in trouble.

You only task is to install Python tonight, play with it for 15 minutes, and take a "Screenshot" of the IDLE window once it's up and running.
A screenshot is a snapshot, a picture, of whatever is displayed on your screen.

To PROVE you go it installed and working, in Python, run a command where you print more than one string together.  Something like print("Sam " + "did " + "it).

Then take a screenshot of your computer.  Save the File (as a JPG or a GIF or PNG is fine) and put it in your Google Doc share folder.

If you don't know how to do this, http://www.take-a-screenshot.org/ will give you some easy keyboard commands to take the picture!

---------------------------
If you have difficulty figuring out my directions, these are the ones Anu wrote for me today:

In order to install python on your home computer please do the following: 

1) Go to python.org

2) Move cursor to the "Download" Tab; select your OS (i.e. Windows for Win7 or XP)

3) Click on the Latest Python 3 Release - Python 3.35rc1

4) On the next page scroll down to the Download section and select the download based off your system type. 


To find your system type, open up the start menu, scroll over and right click on "Computer" then click on "Properties" and look for "System type." If your system type is 64-bit operating system, then on the python you would download the "Windows X86-64 MSI Installer"

Warm Up 2/27 - R.I.P. Windows XP

There is about a 50% chance you are using it RIGHT NOW.  There is about a 99% chance (I'm guessing) that you have used it extensively in your life.

First, I want you to read this article about the death of Windows XP.

For your write-up, I want you to write a summary of what they are talking about.
  - For each 'section' in that article, you need to write two sentences summarizing the major points.
  - Then I want you to write three questions you have after reading the article.
  - Finally, write a short paragraph about how you think this will affect Parkmont (we use windows XP a lot here still!)

Do this write-up on Google Docs.  When you are finished:
    Create a Sub-Folder in your CS Shared folder called Warm-Ups.  From now on when we do our warm ups lets just put them there to keep them out of the way.  Use the title of the warm-up Blog post to title your own document.

Confirm with me when you are finished, when I give the go-ahead, you could hop back on Hour of Code for a brief moment.

HW#1 - Computers at Home

Tonight, I want you to write a report about what is going on in your own home. This is a two part assignment: a statistic report of your computers that you have in your house, and then an interview with a parent about computers. Part 1: List of Things that Need Programming

Create a room by room list of how many computers you have in your house hold. Think carefully. You are looking for anything that needs to be programmed. [Note, this does not include things that are only mechanical] Go in to EACH room, and look for anything that has a computer in it! When you are done your list should look like (but be a LOT longer than) this: Living Room:

• PS3

• Family Laptop

• Digital wall clock

• ...

Kitchen

• Microwave

• Automatic Coffee maker

• ...

Part 2: Parent Interview about Computers
Then, you need to interview a parent (or parents) about how computers have changed since they were younger. You can ask any questions you want, but here are some ideas that you can useYou are required to write two paragraphs about your parent(s) views on computers. Spelling, grammar, it all counts.

• How old were you when you got a computer in your house? What could it do?

• Do you use computers in your job today? Have you always had to?

• When was the first time you used a computer? What was the hardest part about getting used to it?

• How have computers changed our society and culture? What do you think the next step in computers will be?

•  ask others, be creative!

Please do this on Google Drive, and add it to your Share folder when you're done.
Good Luck!

Welcome! Let's warm up...

Welcome everyone, to Computer Science!  You might be wondering what computer science actually is...I mean besides science with computers...

For your first warm up today, you have two main tasks, each with some subtasks.

1) Google Drive - here is what you need to do to completely get set up.  You need to get yourself set up and shared properly with the class folder.   HERE is the link. You have two main goals here:

•   You want to be shared with CAN VIEW option. 
•   You want to have CAN EDIT privileges on your own personal folder within the class folder.  You also want to make sure that no one else can look in your folder.  I might need to be the one to edit your folder.

Once you are done getting set up with google drive, it's time for a POWER PRESENTATION

2) You task is to make a Google Presentation that answers all of the following questions:

• What do you think Computer Science means?
• Why do some people think it is important to teach programming at an early age?
• What is "Hello World"?  Find an example written in some weird language, and include the code in your presentation.
• Extra time?  Add ANY COOL computer-related story, fact, picture or whateva!  As long as you answer the questions well above you'll be ok.

When you're done, put your (very well titled) document in YOUR folder in Google Drive

Here we go!

Test Post

This post is a test, and only a test.