Entry 2 - Computer Science's Expanding Role in Education

Description of Topic: 

       Skill in computer science is becoming much more of a demand in the American workplace. As more and more companies/industries stress the need for this skill that used to be unique but is becoming more common, the US government has started to take note. In the first few months of 2016, President Obama signed a bill allocating $4 billion to expand the role of computer science in American education, which would expand both instruction of the skills and techniques, but also applications of the science in the classroom. The President regards this bill as a way to help students "get ahead" in the future economy, and have many more employment opportunities available to them. Part of that plan is to utilize the growing popularity of video games among America's youth in the classroom, as a way to generate interest in programming, graphics, and other areas of computer science. A student can take their favorite video game, whether it be a MLB: The Show sports-oriented title or a role-playing adventure game like the Legend of Zelda and Sonic the Hedgehog franchises, and learn how computer science makes this product, experience, and, to put it simply, fun is possible. 

 

Role of Computer Science: 

       Whether you are watching World Series coverage on T.V. (see entry 1 of this blog), playing Mario Kart 8 on your brand new Wii U, or taking classes as a junior high student, it is evident that the role of computer science is expanding in today's society. The government is now realizing it's potential as an educational tool, in two ways: Using products produced from computer science for education, and teaching the way those products are created. The video game America's Army was used by the U.S. military in the late 1990s to both recruit new members and eventually to help train existing members. Once it became evident that computer science could be used in this way, it was clear that video games could spark interest in learning the science behind them, and expand the education of computer science in the classroom. As companies continue to push for their employees to have a background in computer science and as the use of the computer continues to expand, education in this field will become more and more vital. 

References:

"Gaming likely to be big part of Obama's $4B computer science initiative" - Brian Crecente

        http://www.polygon.com/2016/2/5/10923916/obama-computer-science-for-all-video-games

PHOTO LINK: http://www.marietta-city.org/cms/lib07/GA01903590/Centricity/Domain/392/LK-Computer%20Science%20Education%20Week%20001.jpg

 

Entry 1 - The National Pastime Reinvented by Technology

As the sport of baseball steams ahead toward the third decade the 21st century, numerous technological advances have changed the way teams (and fans of those teams) view players and their respective talent level. Baseball has always been defined by statistics, but recent advances in computing allow for much more in-depth statistics that really paint a solid picture of what a player brings to a team. New technologically advanced cameras installed in ballparks can analyze much more concretely the value a player brings defensively. For example, on a simple fly ball to the outfield, the cameras can determine, in mere milliseconds, the outfielder's max running speed achieved and distance covered, hang time and launch angle of the baseball, and even the acceleration rate and first step time performed by the defender.  The implementation of these cameras has been made possible by the latest achievements in Computer Science.

An example of the information the camera can provide for the spectator

 An organization called MLB Advanced Media devotes all of it's time and resources to these technologies, providing more information for teams and fans. General managers and assistants can crunch those numbers to determine which players are the most valuable to have on the field, revolutionizing the way teams are assembled. These statistics can be combined to create new stats, like UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) to measure a defender's defensive ability, or WAR (Wins Above Replacement), which compiles the number of total team wins a player is worth over a "replacement level" player. As technology continues to advance, increasingly more accurate determinations of a individual player's talent level will be realized, ensuring that nobody is overlooked based on a scout's simple "eye test" on a player's skill.

Sources: 
1. Youtube.com - "How technology is changing baseball"
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tctsHXxLCM