CS Principles
This activity introduces the concept that abstractions built upon
binary sequences can be used to represent all digital data
. It also introduces the idea the computing has global
impacts. It focuses, in part, on the following learning
objectives:
- 5: The student can describe the combination of abstractions used to represent data.
- 6: The student can explain how binary sequences are used to represent digital data.
- 28: The student can analyze how computing affects communication, interaction, and cognition.
- 29: The student can connect computing with innovations in other fields.
- 30: The student can analyze the beneficial and harmful effects of computing.
- 31: The student can connect computing within economic, social, and cultural contexts.
Reading Assignment
Read Chapter 1 of Blown to
Bits (17 pages). This chapter makes the point that today
everything is digital -- that is, everything is represented
by binary digits or bits. And it provides some
provocative examples of the societal implications of this digital
explosion.
Reading Questions. Keep these questions in mind as you read
the assigned chapter. For each question, write a short answer. Don't
worry if you think you don't know the right answer. Just give it your
best shot. Create a page under the Homework category on
your Portfolio and post your answers to these questions
on that page. You can revise your answers after we discuss this
reading in class.
- What is a bit and what does it mean to say (Koan 1) that
"it's all just bits"? Give examples of the different kinds of things
that today are represented by binary data?
- Describe Moore's Law.
- Someone offers you a summer job and offers you two
payment schemes: (1) $10 per hour for 40 hours per week for 30 days
or (2) One cent on day 1, two cents and day two, four cents on day
three and on (doubling each day) for 30 days. Which pay would
you choose? What does this story illustrate?
- Give an example of how the digital explosion is "neither good
nor bad" but has both positive and negative implicaitons.
Portfolio
Your answers to the above questions should be recorded on a new
portfolio page under the homework category. Name it "Blown to Bits,
Ch1" or something similar.
