Phase: | Before/Engage |
Activity: | Students will: View and discuss Code.org’s video How Computers Work: Hardware and Software, in which Erica from Amazon, Jerome from Xbox, and Bill Gates from Microsoft define and explain the difference between hardware and software. Complete the worksheet "What is the difference between hardware and software?" as they watch/listen to the video. Restate their learning to a partner to ensure understanding of key terms: hardware, software, central processing unit (CPU), operating system, binary and programming language. Use the Question Formulation Technique (see the Advanced Preparation section for instructions) to develop questions with a small group for the prompt “Computers do what they are told.”
|
Assessment Strategies: | Student's knowledge will be accessed through their note-taking worksheet, "What is the difference between hardware and software?"
|
Advanced Preparation: | Pre-watch the video How Computers Work: Hardware and Software. Make a copy or download the worksheet, "What is the difference between hardware and software?" Gather large paper or poster size Post-it notes and markers for student-generated questions Read the article "Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Questions" by Dan Rothstein and Luz Santana, to understand how to implement the Question Formulation Technique. Step 1: Teachers Design a Question Focus. Step 2: Students Produce Questions. Step 3: Students Improve Their Questions. Step 4: Students Prioritize Their Questions. Step 5: Students and Teachers Decide on Next Steps. Step 6: Students Reflect on What They Have Learned. |
Variation Tips (optional): | Students research different programming languages and create an informational artifact showing their knowledge. Examples of programming languages are Scratch, Ruby, Python, Java, and C++. |
Notes or Recommendations (optional): |
Keywords and Search Tags: |