Best high school computer classes?

[meg]

I teach computer classes at a private high school in the US and am looking for suggestions about outstanding computer class topics.

We have a lot of fun currently in a Digital Imaging class. The students learn photography with point-and-shoot digital cameras, photo manipulation in the Gimp (similar to Photoshop) and digital graphic design.

On the geekier side, I've taught web programming before and am considering a database design course.

Want to make course suggestions? What did you love? Hate?

[tsupersonic]

Hi, I am a high school student. I have taken a computer class every year and I am a senior. Here are the classes I have taken, I enjoyed all of them.

Desktop publishing: using graphics and text to make flyer, brocheure (Sp.) etc..

BASIC programming - introduction to programming, necessary for other programming classes.

C++ : Advanced programming.

Digital Technology - learning about robots, building computers.

HTML - easy web design, make students create a school page if you don't have one or make them work/modify the current webpage.

Java - Advanced programming, good to take if you are gonna major in a computer field (computer science or engineering).

Visual Basic: using BASIC programming with GUI's.

[meg]

Originally Posted by tsupersonic

Digital Technology - learning about robots, building computers.

Funny you should mention the robots bit: I'm seriously considering an engineering course built around the LEGO MindStorms robotic kits.

Have any of you used robotics in school? If so, what types and how did you learn them?

The MindStorms look like a great place to start. I want to incorporate the video camera and possibly some sensors. Any MindStorms input out there?

Megan Golding
Work: Chrysalis Experiential Academy
http://www.chrysalisexp.org

Personal: Life With Rachel, one mom's Journey
http://www.kalamitykat.com

[intelliot]

I attend a public high school. The only computer courses offered are Web Design, A+ Computer Hardware & Software, and Computer Science AP. None of them are very good.

Several years ago I built and programmed some Lego MindStorms robots on my own. It was great fun. I would say it could make an excellent class, if fun is what you're looking for .

[meg]

Originally Posted by intelliot

Several years ago I built and programmed some Lego MindStorms robots on my own. It was great fun. I would say it could make an excellent class, if fun is what you're looking for .

Not just fun. I want that holy grail of computer education: it feels fun to learn valuable skills you can use elsewhere. I'm sneaky that way as a teacher.

MindStorms seem like a great way to get folks thinking like a programmer. Considering all the alternatives, working through logic. And they strike me as extremely quick to get going. The biggest barrier I'm going to face is the initial cost.

May I ask why the computer courses at your school aren't very good, intelliot? The computer courses I took as a student were dull because we had to take them with all the kids who didn't care, so we rarely got beyond "Hello world" programs in about four different languages. Of course that's dull!

I'm working to counteract "Hello world" classes. Unfortunately, since that's my entire background it's tough to overcome. That said, I'm excited in a way only a geek can be about an upcoming course course on database programming I'm trying to offer. SQL is the coolest thing, don'tcha think?

Thanks for your feedback so far, intelliot and tsupersonic.

Megan Golding
Work: Chrysalis Experiential Academy
http://www.chrysalisexp.org

Home: Life With Rachel, One Mom's Journey
http://www.kalamitykat.com

[intelliot]

Exactly. The kids didn't care and didn't want the teacher to care, so she didn't. The AP material was not very exciting either. We just learned the test.

PHP/MySQL - very useful.

[cvrk3]

I think if you are including action scripts in the web design class, you may consider including the same.
Similarly, games programming will be career oriented! at least the basics!

[meg]

Originally Posted by intelliot

PHP/MySQL - very useful.

Absolutely. What you learn in PHP can carry over to many languages (Python comes to mind immediately) but you get to build stuff that has a visual side from day one. As for MySQL, how much more so. The dialects may change but database concepts don't change.

intelliot, you suggest a grat combo. My students can learn interesting technology that I know has immediate application in the workplace. I was a webhead before switching into teaching this year. My job involved PHP and SQL daily.

The other huge attractor for the PHP/MySQL combination is that they're open source. My students can install this stuff at home and tinker as well as get great support on the Internet. ASP, to name a proprietary technology, doesn't have nearly the student user base.