Computers At Work

Providing clean water to a town is quite a feat... is your class up for the challenge? After a short reading about water towers, groups work together to design a working water delivery system. The water flow must be adjustable (able to...

How do computers sort data lists? Using eight unknown weights and a balance scale, groups determine the order of the weights from lightest to heaviest. A second worksheet provides the groups with other methods to order the weights. The...

While designed for computer science, the activity here could be used in any lesson involving communication or problem solving. In a game similar to Mastermind, one group member is the controller and is able to see the numbers on a series...

What ever happened to using floppy disks for computer storage? Investigate the pros and cons of punch cards and floppy disks by making predictions, performing experiments, and presenting recommendations. Look back at the history of...

Classic graph theory problems of the traveling salesman and bridges of Konigsburg get the school treatment in this multi-age, multi-level activity. Learners distill a local map down to a few key locations, and then detail characteristics...

Here is an activity that allows class members to explore and research robotics and the idea of automation. Working with a gaming model, pupils write an algorithm to "automate" the solution. Individuals also conduct and present research...

Do you know about The Enchantress of Numbers? Ada Lovelace wrote the first computer program, more than a century before the first modern computer. Her knowledge and vision continue to inspire mathematicians today. 

What is creativity, anyway? Check out this fascinating video on the potential for creativity from artificial intelligence. The resource provides insight into the world of computer programming and algorithms, while at the same time...

Just how does computer memory work? Really, it's all zeros and ones. Learn more about bits, binary digits, memory cells, memory latency, and CPS in a short video about how computer memory works.

Computers are amazingly powerful machines that we have come to take for granted. Starting with a simple click of the mouse, this animated video takes you on a trip through the inner workings of computers. Learn how programs allow the...