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Delve into the world of magical teaching methods with Dr. Tom Way as he demonstrates how to incorporate magic tricks into computer science education. Discover the art and science behind magic, learn new tricks, and explore effective GUI design principles, search algorithms, data compression, and more at CSESI 2009.
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The Magic ofComputing Dr. Tom Way CSESI 2009Haverford College June 30, 2009 0000000100000010000100100000000100000011000000010000010000000001000000100001001000000001
My Background • UM Radio TV UD SE VU • Computer Science professor for 7 years • Graduate student for 8 years • Software engineer for 9 years • Hollywood writer for 10 years • Magician for 40 years (1969) CSESI 2009
Focus • Focus on teaching you how to perform some of the tricks • Understand the learning process for acquiring new tricks • Rely on your creativity to link tricks to your specific teaching needs CSESI 2009
Plan for the day • Using magic to teach • Art & Science behind magic • Learning magic tricks • Where to find out more CSESI 2009
Proposed Schedule • 9-12 watch, learn, try • 12-1 lunch • 1-3:30 develop, practice, perform CSESI 2009
Remedial Computer Science 101 Prof. Tom WaySection 1 Meeting: Today 9-9:30am
2s Complement • What is 2s Complement? • Negative binary integers • What is the algorithm? • Start: 000101 • Not: 111010 • Add 1: 111011 • Check our work: 000101 5 +111011-5 000000 0 CSESI 2009
Search Algorithms • Find specific value (its index) in an array • Random search • Linear search • Binary search • Optimal search • Know what the optimal is helps us to judge how good our algorithm is CSESI 2009
GUI Design Principles • Principle of metaphor • Borrow behaviors from familiar systems • Principle of user profiling • Know who your user is • Principle of coherence • Behavior should be internallyand externally consistent CSESI 2009
Load Balancing • Example: 3 tasks of different lengths • How long will it take to perform the tasks simultaneously? • How could we get them done faster? • What is the fastest way to get them done? CSESI 2009
Data Compression • Purpose is to squeeze the air out of data so it fits in a smaller space • Lots of ways to do this – depends on data • Lossless – decompressed = original • Lossy – some data is missing • Run length encoding – lots of repetition • Huffman – probabilistic data (Morse code) CSESI 2009
Using Magic to Teach • Not a short-cut to As, revolutionary idea, scientifically validated approach • Is another trick for a good educator’s bag of pedagogical tricks • A little KLA (Kinetic Learning Activities) • A little problem-based learning • A little example-based teaching • A little what-the? • It’s cheap – don’t have to buy toys, candy, spend massive time planning, etc. CSESI 2009
What is going on? • Active Thinking – brain in high gear • Uniqueness – brain loves surprise • Coolness – popular, generates buzz • Anticipation – appealing, fun, engaging • Evolving – empirical? anecdotal! CSESI 2009
Approach 1: Topic Driven • Pick an upcoming topic you will teach • Find a trick that fits • Learn the trick • Plan what to say • Practice • Perform it in class CSESI 2009
Approach 2: Trick Driven • Pick a trick that you really like • Find an upcoming topic that fits • Learn the trick • Plan what to say • Practice • Perform it in class CSESI 2009
Learning a trick • Read the description • Work through each step • Try it in front of a mirror • Practice it a couple times • Use it in class CSESI 2009
Performing a trick • Natural is best • The overused “make it your own” applies • Attitude is important • NOT know-it-all, fooled you, try to figure this out – TURN OFF • YES check this out, I’m amazed too, enjoy it along with them CSESI 2009
Art of Magic • Magician’s Code • Never reveal how trick is done • Never repeat trick for same group • Practice, practice, practice • Patter – what you say, story you tell • In our case, the patter will involvesome aspect of Computer Science CSESI 2009
Science of Magic • Misdirection • Controlling the audience’s attention • Making them look where you want them to • THE secret of all magic • Concealment - hiding • Switching - replacing • Forcing – not a free choice CSESI 2009
Categories of Tricks • Production • Vanish • Transposition • Penetration • Levitation • Mental • Escape CSESI 2009
MASTER Principle • Movement – large conceals small • Angles – consider your angles • Surprise – don’t tip your hand • Thought – keep their brains busy • Eyes – look where you want them to look • Reason – has to make sense CSESI 2009
Pencils Cards Rope String Hatpin Balloons Rubber bands Scotch tape Paperclips Fake dollar bill Penny Bent penny 3 Card Monte Professor’s Nightmare Floating gimmick Styrofoam cup Goodie Bag & Handbook CSESI 2009
Wrist Twister • Page 12 • Penetration – break your wrist • Switching – change the position • Concealment – hide the position • Misdirection CSESI 2009
Pick Any Card • Page 24 • Mental – predict the future • Forcing – you know which card • Revelation – how to reveal prediction? • Misdirection CSESI 2009
Sticky Pencil & Stickier Pencil • Pages 29 & 30 • Levitation – defy gravity • Concealment – hide the mechanics • Misdirection CSESI 2009
Napkinesis • Page 42 • Vanish • Concealment • Misdirection CSESI 2009
Professor’s Nightmare • Page 34 • Transposition • Switching • Concealment • Misdirection CSESI 2009
Other Tricks • Three Card Monte (36) – big cards • Instant Reconnect (37) – piece of string • Dematerializing Toothpick (43)– tape, toothpick • Cut & Restored Rope (13) – rope & scissors • Magician’s Choice (23) – any 3 objects • Mind Bending Coin (35) & utility switch CSESI 2009
More Tricks • Coin Vanish (40) – coin or other object • Karate Dollar (14) – dollar & pencil • Balloon Testing (16) – balloons & pin • Linking Paper Clips (17) – dollar & 2 paperclips • Jumping Rubber Band (18) – 1 rubber band CSESI 2009
Still More Tricks • Reversal of Expectation (38) – cards • Pincushion Thumb (19) – napkin & pin • Haunted Styrofoam Cup (28) – cup • Cup Juggling (31) – cup • Vanishing Card (41) – napkin, stirrer, cards CSESI 2009
Resources • Public library • Internet • Google: easy magic tricks • Google: online magic trick • Magic shops • Yellow pages • Online shops (e.g., magicfact.com) • Web sites for magician’s • allmagic.com CSESI 2009
Straitjacket • Invented by Dr. Benjamin Rush, 1814 • Believed that torture was good medicine • Restrains the “criminally insane” • Designed to be escape proof • Trying to escape leads to exhaustion • Still used today CSESI 2009