Category Archives: Week 9

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Open Source Software in Education

     In recent times I have started a job as a computer teacher for a private school, and as such I have had to become familiar with a variety of educational software. As an educator, it is important for there to be a plethora of accessible software to teach children digital literacy, as computers have become increasingly incorporated into more facets of modern society Open-source software is one avenue that allows young students access to important tools to learn and create, without incurring a hefty price tag for their school. This is especially true for those learning how to code since it is not exactly a subject that comes naturally to everyone. While there are certainly many free IDEs out there for any aspiring adult programmer to use, I am more concerned with young children who may not be able to understand all the complex operations of standard IDEs. The best answer I have found is the educational coding software Scratch, created by MIT. Licensed under the “Creative Commons Share Alike” license, Scratch provides a drag and drop block-based coding environment that is easily understood and accessible to children. This allows teachers to easily demonstrate basic coding concepts like if-then-else statements and assigning variables. There’s even Scratch jr., available on tablets, that has an even more simplistic UI designed for even younger audiences. MIT has also released App Inventor, a free open-source software for creating mobile applications. These coding applications highlight the ability of open-source software to easily adapt to changes in social needs. But educational software does not just encompass programming and mobile apps, it also extends to various tools needed for academic success. Software such as ONLYOFFICE and LibreOffice, which provides a free alternative to Microsoft Office, is appreciated by students who cannot afford the more popular and expensive version. Not only are these applications useful within the U.S. education system, but another benefit they provide is their international reach. Since they are online and free for anyone to download and copy, they can be distributed to anyone globally with an internet connection. This opens new avenues for providing education to those in need. Education is a sector in need of accessible tools so that we can better teach the next generation and expand access to reliable education within our own borders and beyond. Not only that, but in this modern time where the importance of digital literacy is at an all-time high, we need to start laying the groundwork for future developers. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/faq

https://elearningindustry.com/open-source-tools-to-boost-digital-learning

From the blog CS@Worcester Alejandro Professional Blog by amontesdeoca and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

application architecture, serverless

In CS-343, we’ve gone over three major architectures for designing applications. These three are the monolith, client-server and microservices architectures. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, but it seems as though if you can go with microservices, you should go with it as it provides stronger scalability and reliability even if it is much more complex.

From this, it seems like you would use the other architectures if you cannot afford to build a microservices architecture currently, do not have the time to do it, or if your team does not have the required skills / manpower to build up the architecture. It makes sense in the case where the application doesn’t need to be complex, but as time progresses, perhaps it will be that complex in the future, and having built from a monolith architecture ends up being a nuisance.

Out of curiosity, I wanted to learn about some additional types of architectures. I found this blog post written by Paul Gillin, and what stuck out to me was the serverless architecture model. His explanation of it is that it is an evolution of the microservices architecture, with the main departure being that it is, well, serverless. Services are run from software containers as opposed to being pulled from a server.

This idea interests me, not just because of not needing to construct a server with it, but also because it utilizes containers in a very effective way. In this course, I was interested in the practical uses of containers outside of simplifying development within a team, and it seems like this implementation is what I was looking for. Of course, there are some cases where a serverless architecture wouldn’t work, and this architecture is mostly suited for experienced teams due to its complexity, but it’s an interesting idea nonetheless.

After looking at other websites, I must mention that there is a distinction between a pure serverless architecture and one that utilizes containers. This webpage on the serverless architecture from DataDog makes this clear in the “Serverless Architecture vs. Container Architecture” section. Essentially, with a pure serverless architecture the cloud provider (AWS, for example) manages their servers, which means that you don’t have to manage it, but you do have to work with what they give you. With a container architecture, you have to update and maintain your containers, system settings, and dependencies for everything to work properly in place of a server.

With this distinction in mind, I definitely wouldn’t want to rely on an external cloud service, and so a container-based architecture does seem more appealing. Ultimately, though, every tool (and architecture in this case) has its uses, so it’s important to know and understand many architectures so you know what to use when you need to use it.

From the blog CS@Worcester – V's CompSCi Blog by V and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.