GOTO Berlin is a vendor independent international software development conference with more that 60 top speaker and 400 attendees. The conference cover topics such as Java, Open Source, Agile, Architecture, Design, Web, Cloud, New Languages and Processes.
Sam Aaron, TweetPostdoc Researcher at The University of Cambridge
Biography: Sam Aaron
Sam is interested in domain specific languages, the aesthetics of programming languages and the more general concept of language oriented programming.
He is inspired by people who look further afield than the traditional literature to bring powerful new ideas and concepts back to the field of computing.
As such, he's currently performing postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge exploring the combination of low-level efficient real-time systems with high-level expressive languages and interfaces towards the creation of new systems for the improvisation of music.
Twitter: @samaaron
Presentation: TweetSonic Pi: Teaching Computer Science with Music
In the UK the school education system is experiencing radical reform. This is particularly the case with computing. There’s momentum to separate ICT from Computer Science and to place specific emphasis on the teaching of Computational Thinking. In broad terms, we shouldn’t just be teaching our children office skills such as formatting Word documents – we should be teaching them how to code and create their own software. This talk introduces Sonic Pi, a music language and environment running on the Raspberry Pi specifically focussed on introducing core Computer Science concepts for KS3 students. Sonic Pi emphasises the importance of creativity in pedagogic contexts enabling learners to exhibit self-agency through the application of the taught ideas in musical works they create and own. Sonic Pi is currently being trialled by schools. We will discuss some early observations and initial success stories of using music and composition as a means for both introducing technical concepts and improving engagement and interest.