Point out products of CS to help students see the prevalence of computing and computer programs in their daily lives.

  • This makes programming applicable outside the classroom and highlights the expanding job market.
  • Connect programming to daily activities like using Microsoft Suite, smartphone apps, etc.
  • Computer scientists are involved in the creation of most everyday objects. Students might know that computer scientists make apps, but might not realize that computer science is behind lots of everyday objects (e.g. traffic lights, microwaves, cash registers). You can have students list things that are important to them and discuss how those things rely on computers (and therefore computer science).
    • Example: "Traffic lights are controlled by computer programs!"
  • See this and related tips as a Tip Sheet: http://csteachingtips.org/Tips-for-introducing-computing

More about this tip

External Source

Interview with David Roth