Alfred Thompson
@alfredtwo.bsky.social
Retired computer guy - Software developer and computer science teacher Still advocating for computer science education for all #CSed
This is what actual leadership looks like.
I just issued an executive order to develop a veteran food pantry network to provide food support for veterans, service members, and their families.
Regardless of what happens at the federal level, Minnesota remains committed to providing for those who protect our freedom.
Regardless of what happens at the federal level, Minnesota remains committed to providing for those who protect our freedom.
November 12, 2025 at 1:49 AM
This is what actual leadership looks like.
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
There is so much to process here.
That said, FYI to Ph.D. students and postdocs in the U.S.
That said, FYI to Ph.D. students and postdocs in the U.S.
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
There is so much to process here.
That said, FYI to Ph.D. students and postdocs in the U.S.
That said, FYI to Ph.D. students and postdocs in the U.S.
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
Fascinating inconsistencies exist in AI guardrails. ChatGPT won't identify a celebrity in a pic, citing policy on identifying real people. Gemini does.
But Gemini won't help rewrite a paragraph critical of Trump, claiming it aims to be politically neutral, while ChatGPT has no such constraint.
But Gemini won't help rewrite a paragraph critical of Trump, claiming it aims to be politically neutral, while ChatGPT has no such constraint.
November 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Fascinating inconsistencies exist in AI guardrails. ChatGPT won't identify a celebrity in a pic, citing policy on identifying real people. Gemini does.
But Gemini won't help rewrite a paragraph critical of Trump, claiming it aims to be politically neutral, while ChatGPT has no such constraint.
But Gemini won't help rewrite a paragraph critical of Trump, claiming it aims to be politically neutral, while ChatGPT has no such constraint.
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
📣 Shaping the Future of CS: K-12 Policy & Advocacy
📅 Nov 18 | 🕔 5 pm ET
🔗 duke.is/K12Policy
Join AiiCE Steering Committee member Shaina Glass + AiiCE affiliates Sofía DeJesús, Rudy Escobar, & David Lockett for a powerful conversation on #CSEd policy. #AiiCEinnovates #CSTA @csteachersorg.bsky.social
📅 Nov 18 | 🕔 5 pm ET
🔗 duke.is/K12Policy
Join AiiCE Steering Committee member Shaina Glass + AiiCE affiliates Sofía DeJesús, Rudy Escobar, & David Lockett for a powerful conversation on #CSEd policy. #AiiCEinnovates #CSTA @csteachersorg.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
📣 Shaping the Future of CS: K-12 Policy & Advocacy
📅 Nov 18 | 🕔 5 pm ET
🔗 duke.is/K12Policy
Join AiiCE Steering Committee member Shaina Glass + AiiCE affiliates Sofía DeJesús, Rudy Escobar, & David Lockett for a powerful conversation on #CSEd policy. #AiiCEinnovates #CSTA @csteachersorg.bsky.social
📅 Nov 18 | 🕔 5 pm ET
🔗 duke.is/K12Policy
Join AiiCE Steering Committee member Shaina Glass + AiiCE affiliates Sofía DeJesús, Rudy Escobar, & David Lockett for a powerful conversation on #CSEd policy. #AiiCEinnovates #CSTA @csteachersorg.bsky.social
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
🏨 Looking to Share a Room for SIGCSE TS 2026?
Join SIGCSE TS 2026 Roommate Finder Google Group!
🔗 Learn more on the Hotel Information page: sigcse2026.sigcse.org/attending/Ho...
📬 Join the Roommate Finder Group here: groups.google.com/g/sigcse-ts-...
#SIGCSETS2026 #CSeducation #ConferenceTravel
Join SIGCSE TS 2026 Roommate Finder Google Group!
🔗 Learn more on the Hotel Information page: sigcse2026.sigcse.org/attending/Ho...
📬 Join the Roommate Finder Group here: groups.google.com/g/sigcse-ts-...
#SIGCSETS2026 #CSeducation #ConferenceTravel
November 3, 2025 at 6:23 PM
🏨 Looking to Share a Room for SIGCSE TS 2026?
Join SIGCSE TS 2026 Roommate Finder Google Group!
🔗 Learn more on the Hotel Information page: sigcse2026.sigcse.org/attending/Ho...
📬 Join the Roommate Finder Group here: groups.google.com/g/sigcse-ts-...
#SIGCSETS2026 #CSeducation #ConferenceTravel
Join SIGCSE TS 2026 Roommate Finder Google Group!
🔗 Learn more on the Hotel Information page: sigcse2026.sigcse.org/attending/Ho...
📬 Join the Roommate Finder Group here: groups.google.com/g/sigcse-ts-...
#SIGCSETS2026 #CSeducation #ConferenceTravel
Computer Science Teacher: Flag on the Play - AI Let Me Down blog.acthompson.net/2025/11/flag... #CSed
Flag on the Play AI Let Me Down
A blog about computer science education. Projects, resources, and ideas for teaching, learning, and using computer science. By a teacher for teachers.
blog.acthompson.net
November 4, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Computer Science Teacher: Flag on the Play - AI Let Me Down blog.acthompson.net/2025/11/flag... #CSed
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
My CAS Space Invaders Workshop for teachers 👾 is on CASTV now! We used the @microbit.org classroom tool to simulate supporting learners and had some fun too 😀 Find it on YT here 👇 youtu.be/qwpndf-T4ns?... #TeamCompSci
Engaging all Learners with Game Development on the microbit Physical Computing event
YouTube video by CAS TV
youtu.be
October 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
My CAS Space Invaders Workshop for teachers 👾 is on CASTV now! We used the @microbit.org classroom tool to simulate supporting learners and had some fun too 😀 Find it on YT here 👇 youtu.be/qwpndf-T4ns?... #TeamCompSci
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
A horror themed game on the microbit! In sheep abduction, you are the farmer collecting sheep before the alien ship beams them up! Find example code and free learner worksheets in the YT description here 👉 youtube.com/shorts/R6hVo...
micro:bit Sheep Abduction!
YouTube video by Mr Lovell Computer Science
youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:50 AM
A horror themed game on the microbit! In sheep abduction, you are the farmer collecting sheep before the alien ship beams them up! Find example code and free learner worksheets in the YT description here 👉 youtube.com/shorts/R6hVo...
Interesting little project #CSed
Make Space Invaders on the micro:bit 👾 Go to the YT link for a student worksheet and example code 👉 youtube.com/shorts/4J…
November 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Interesting little project #CSed
Computer Science Teacher: Unexpected Help With Coding Projects blog.acthompson.net/2025/10/unex... #CSed AI keeps sticking itself into my projects. What does it mean for teaching programming and software engineering education.
Unexpected Help With Coding Projects
A blog about computer science education. Projects, resources, and ideas for teaching, learning, and using computer science. By a teacher for teachers.
blog.acthompson.net
October 31, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Computer Science Teacher: Unexpected Help With Coding Projects blog.acthompson.net/2025/10/unex... #CSed AI keeps sticking itself into my projects. What does it mean for teaching programming and software engineering education.
A Review of Grokipedia, Using Myself as Test Subject whatever.scalzi.com/2025/10/30/a... by @scalzi.com
A Review of Grokipedia, Using Myself as Test Subject
What? You didn’t know that Grokipedia exists? Well, it does, and it’s Elon Musk’s attempt to run Wikipedia out of town on a rail: An “AI”-generated compendium of infor…
whatever.scalzi.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:20 AM
A Review of Grokipedia, Using Myself as Test Subject whatever.scalzi.com/2025/10/30/a... by @scalzi.com
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
Here's a link to today's CircuitPython exam: docs.google.com/presentation... Students had to complete 8 builds in 2.5 hrs. Themes: "Magic-8 Ball Yoda", "Diwali Musical Chairs", An anti-cat distance-activated Turkey, & "Yip Yip Yip" martians from Sesame Street.
Physical Computing Exam - Fall 2025
Physical Computing Exam Fall '25 with Prof. John Gallaugher Each slide is a different question. Advance the slide and the video should play, demonstrating the final product. 8 builds in CircuitPython ...
docs.google.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Here's a link to today's CircuitPython exam: docs.google.com/presentation... Students had to complete 8 builds in 2.5 hrs. Themes: "Magic-8 Ball Yoda", "Diwali Musical Chairs", An anti-cat distance-activated Turkey, & "Yip Yip Yip" martians from Sesame Street.
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
This perfectly encapsulates what the GOP position is on the shutdown.
October 29, 2025 at 10:30 PM
This perfectly encapsulates what the GOP position is on the shutdown.
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
At this year's annual conference, multiple sessions offered ideas and support for teachers to include all students in CS classrooms. Read about them on The Voice: buff.ly/ESncTNX #CSAccess #Accessibility #CSEd
October 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
At this year's annual conference, multiple sessions offered ideas and support for teachers to include all students in CS classrooms. Read about them on The Voice: buff.ly/ESncTNX #CSAccess #Accessibility #CSEd
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
#CSed question - can students learn critiquing programs as a skill without being able to write programs on their own? Asking since LLMs can synthesize programs but do so too eagerly and will need spec clarification to iterate.
October 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
#CSed question - can students learn critiquing programs as a skill without being able to write programs on their own? Asking since LLMs can synthesize programs but do so too eagerly and will need spec clarification to iterate.
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
For the record, I have all my life been pronouncing "gyre" with a g-sound and not a j-sound, and I understand that the j-sound version is recognized as the "correct" version, WHICH IS WRONG, also it's "gif" with a "g," anyone who says otherwise is a plant for Big J
October 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
For the record, I have all my life been pronouncing "gyre" with a g-sound and not a j-sound, and I understand that the j-sound version is recognized as the "correct" version, WHICH IS WRONG, also it's "gif" with a "g," anyone who says otherwise is a plant for Big J
Now with the actual link to the blog post www.robmiles.com/journal/2025... #CSed 3d printing
October 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Now with the actual link to the blog post www.robmiles.com/journal/2025... #CSed 3d printing
Super Secret Encoder by @robmiles.com I need to play with this #CSed
October 26, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Super Secret Encoder by @robmiles.com I need to play with this #CSed
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
As other people have noted, if you have local food banks, now would be an excellent time to donate cash to them, if you have the cash to spare. We will be upping our donations to food banks and hunger-related charities here in Ohio.
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month reut.rs/3WohHMk
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
As other people have noted, if you have local food banks, now would be an excellent time to donate cash to them, if you have the cash to spare. We will be upping our donations to food banks and hunger-related charities here in Ohio.
Thoughts on user interfaces and artificial intelligence inspired by interactions with a microwave. #CSED #AI blog.acthompson.net/2025/10/user...
User Interfaces and Microwaves and Artificial Intelligence
A blog about computer science education. Projects, resources, and ideas for teaching, learning, and using computer science. By a teacher for teachers.
blog.acthompson.net
October 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Thoughts on user interfaces and artificial intelligence inspired by interactions with a microwave. #CSED #AI blog.acthompson.net/2025/10/user...
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
Proposition: You become a writer the moment you write, a musician the moment you make music, a painter the moment you paint, etc. You become an artist the moment you find your own voice as a writer/musician/painter/etc.
Yes? No?
Yes? No?
October 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Proposition: You become a writer the moment you write, a musician the moment you make music, a painter the moment you paint, etc. You become an artist the moment you find your own voice as a writer/musician/painter/etc.
Yes? No?
Yes? No?
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
In related news... happy @csteachersorg.bsky.social and @nctml.bsky.social and @oamelearns.bsky.social proposal season, friends. ✨
May the odds be ever in your favor. 🙏
May the odds be ever in your favor. 🙏
For several years I've been using conference proposals to set placeholders for new things I've been wanting to create, but seem to need a firm, public, oh-god-i-have-to deadline to actually do.
The mix of brainstorming, hope, & dread really seems to work for me. Definitely recommend. 🤓🤞😱
The mix of brainstorming, hope, & dread really seems to work for me. Definitely recommend. 🤓🤞😱
October 23, 2025 at 11:09 PM
In related news... happy @csteachersorg.bsky.social and @nctml.bsky.social and @oamelearns.bsky.social proposal season, friends. ✨
May the odds be ever in your favor. 🙏
May the odds be ever in your favor. 🙏
Reposted by Alfred Thompson
So… we have a President who just arrests and jails his political opponents…
There’s a word for that.
No Trump voter ever gets to say they believe in democracy and freedom ever again.
We don’t believe what you say because we see what you do.
There’s a word for that.
No Trump voter ever gets to say they believe in democracy and freedom ever again.
We don’t believe what you say because we see what you do.
October 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM
So… we have a President who just arrests and jails his political opponents…
There’s a word for that.
No Trump voter ever gets to say they believe in democracy and freedom ever again.
We don’t believe what you say because we see what you do.
There’s a word for that.
No Trump voter ever gets to say they believe in democracy and freedom ever again.
We don’t believe what you say because we see what you do.