Adventures in Computational ThinkingBy: Caitlin Zahlis

Presentation of Information with MS

PowerPoint

CSE 3 Fluency With Information Technology

(FIT)

Caitlin Zahlis

Making Information Available to the World with

HTML and Web PagesUtilizing our CSE 3 server and “Secure File Transfer Client,” we put files on the internet so that everyone in the world can see them. To transfer files to our web server we: Double click on public_html on the right side of the window. Move the entire CSE3 folder as well as index.html into our public_html folder

We use the program, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2010. We create new slides while inserting our Excel charts into our presentation. We stylize, format and add animation to each slide. The PowerPoint presentation allows us to clearly present otherwise difficult-to-read information through orderly slides which contain charts, graphs, images and little written description. It allowed us to present information that we gathered through our spreadsheets.

Desktop Publishing with MS Word

Data Analysis and Visualization with MS

ExcelWe created an annual budget specified to our own projected futures, so we can monitor our spending while here at UCSD, as well as in the future. We can calculate how much money we can spend on “wants” rather than “needs” each month. We converted complex data into easily understood charts and graphs, as one of the most common uses of the spreadsheet is to chart financial information.

In addition to word processing, MS word is a capable desktop publishing application. It includes features that allowed us to create sophisticated designs and page spreads. This program automates formatting, including a “Table of Context” and “Work Cited.” It's drawing tools, fill effects and text boxes allow us to create aesthetically pleasing displays of information in document or PDF form.

Visual Programming with Alice

Alice provided us an innovative programming environment to support the creation of 3D animations. Alice provided tools and materials that taught us computational thinking, problem solving, and computer programming. Alice's interactive interface allowed us to drag and drop graphic tiles to create a program where the instructions corresponded to standard statements in the programming language (including JavaScript). By manipulating objects in the virtual world, we gained experience with programming constructs.

Dynamic Webpage Programming with

JavaScriptUsing JavaScript, we can create dynamic, interactive web pages that include image rollovers, pop-up windows, auto-scrolling frames, intelligent forms, and sophisticated HTML effects. Programming helps us to learn how to break down problems into small, digestible pieces while it forces us to think logically.