site optimized for viewports with a minimum span of 800px. learn more about web design in our web design module
(yes, still) under construction for Spring 2019
technology rediscovery
java three-course series @ ccac west
A complete three-part Java programming series is now being offered at CCAC's West Hills Center: we begin with an introductory programming course for novice programmers (CIT-111) and proceed through CIT-244: Object-oriented design 2.
computer fundamentals
Get down to the basics of modern computer systems: binary input/output components, boolean logic, and oodles of digital storage
python 2
As a second course in Python programming, we use our skills to write to and from files, scrape web pages, call APIs, and crunch the numbers.
data analytics @ ccac north
Transformating the raw material of the 21st century
cross-course resources
Links applicable to all technology rediscovery courses taught at the Community College of Allegheny County (Western, PA)
open course docs
miscellany
Links applicable to all technology rediscovery courses taught at the Community College of Allegheny County (Western, PA)
Calendar Items & and notices
Fall 2018 FINAL GRADES report ready*** View all final grade propsal cards for Fall 2018 ***
Raw data spreadsheet: Review all (anonymized) FINAL grades submitted by Eric Darsow to the CCAC, oragnized into an ultra-convenient shared, read-only google doc.
timeless: rediscover 1975 technology
Reflect on the horsepower of modern computing by taking a trip in the WayBack machine (artchive.org) to play the original Oregon Trail game produced by the Apple Computer corporation. Since personal computers didn't exist in 1975, play would involve sitting at a typing terminal connected to the actual mainframe computer located in another room, building, or city.
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New content! |
CIT-111: Introduction to Programming Java
CIT-111: Course EssentialsCross-Module ResourcesStudent Feedback! |
Content: Chunks and ModulesChunk 1: Java Language CoreChunk 2: Language StructuresChunk 3: Object-Oriented Java!SP18 Final Project: The Object Project |
CIT 130: Object-oriented design in Java
Course synopsis
As a second-term Java course, our focus shifts from language fundamentals to harnessing the beauty, glory, and magic of Java's object-oriented way of being.
Content links |
Course modulesResourcesClass member project |
CIT-244: Object-oriented design 2
Course synopsis
As a third-term Java course, our focus shifts from object design fundamentals to more advanced topics such as multi-dimensional arrays, file i/o, algorithm development, and data structures.
Course member code repositoriesResourcesClass member repositories |
CIT-100: Computer Fundamentals Online
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Migration to Blackboard: Based on student comments, all guides and links for this Fall 2018 course have been consolidated to Blackboard only. Necessary links to the pages also cross-listed here are located within our assignment directories.
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Course schedule and session guide
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CIT 115: Introduction to Information Systems
Course catalog description
This course uses the skills gained in CIT-111 and expands on the concepts of the
software development process, data representation and storage, program control
structures, objects and classes. Additional topics include event handling, arrays and
window based graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Course resources |
Course modulesSpreadsheets! |
Data analytics resources
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Diving into the somewhat mystical process of converting rows and columns of numbers into useful information for decision making of all kinds: persona, business, organizational, and more.
Content Modules |
External ResourcesArchived documentsTo chew on |
CIT-129 - Programming Python 2
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For those truly inspired by the pythonic order, students in this course will continue their studies for a second semester and unearth the hidden treasures of today's uncannily popular programming language: Python.
Core Resources |
Module linksFA18 course member code repos |
Spring 2019 Schedule
Eric Darsow is the assigned instructor for the following CCAC courses in the Spring of 2019. Register soon at CCAC! 
All courses listed below are full-term and start on 28-JAN-19 and run until the end of finals in 13-MAY-19.
| Mondays | Tuesdays | Wednesdays |
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CIT-115: Intro to info systems
West Hills: Mon/Wed 8-9:30am, rm. S2113
CIT-111: Intro to Programming with Java
West Hills: Mon/Wed 10am-12:05pm, rm. S2113
CIT-130: Object-Oriented Programming 1
West Hills: Mon/Wed 12:30-2:35pm, rm. S2113
CIT-244: Object-Oriented Programming 2
West Hills: Mon/Wed 2:45-4:50pm, rm. S2113
DAT-201: Data Analytics 1
North Campus: Mon 6-9:10pm, rm. 1136 |
DAT-102: Intro to Data Analytics
North Campus: Tue 6-9:10pm, rm. 1136 |
CIT-115: Intro to info systems
West Hills: Mon/Wed 8-9:30am, rm. S2113
CIT-111: Intro to Programming with Java
West Hills: Mon/Wed 10am-12:05pm, rm. S2113
CIT-130: Object-Oriented Programming 1
West Hills: Mon/Wed 12:30-2:35pm, rm. S2113
CIT-244: Object-Oriented Programming 2
West Hills: Mon/Wed 2:45-4:50pm, rm. S2113
CIT-129: Python 2: Algorithms and more
North Campus: Wed 6-9:10pm, rm. 1136 |
Office hours: Spring 2019
West Hills: Mon/Wed, 9:30-10am, rm. S2113
North Campus: Tue, 2-6pm, rm. 1026 (lab) By appointment: Call 412.894.3020, leave VM |
Phone ContactTechnology Rediscovery Shop Landline:
Please leave a message if your call is not answered and mention a good time to call back.
412-894-3020 Mobile (Limited Use)
Use for "emergencies" only; please do not leave a voicemail message; texts may not be read: 412-923-9907
Snail Mail
CIT Department, North Campus
attn: Eric Darsow Community College of Allegheny County 8701 Perry Highway Pittsburgh, PA 15237-5353 Come visit!Classes are considered semi-public spaces and all visitors are welcome to schedule a time to visit using the contact information in this sesction
Electronic Mail
Please prioritize in-person and real-time phone conversation over email. If you insist, or your communication falls under one of the following email use cases, you may reach me at edarsow (at) ccac.edu
Email Use Cases:
document transfer, exchange of complicated web links, exchange of program files, distribution of system access instructions & passwords.
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Student Projects and ProfilesAssembled from learning across disciplines, these sites are student-produced portals into computer and career-related explorations.
Computer Fundamentals Fall 2017Java Fall 2018Java Fall 2017 |
Object Project profiles from Spring 2017 |
"Letter Grades"
Technology Rediscovery credit-course grading approach, past grade issuance documentation, and examples of student-submitted recommendation cards completed for various classes.
CCAC General
Materials and guest responses created during a 10-minute address at the opening of the Community College of Allegheny County's Innovation Lab classroom.
Teaching: Guides and PhilosophyVarious teaching resources, broadly applicable for student audiences in high school, community colleges, and organizations
Workshop delivered at CCAC's college-wide assessment day exploring methods for gathering student learning data and reacting to that data all in the course of a single lesson.
A companion to the assessment process underway for CCAC's associates degree in computer information systems (050.3) which prepares students for transfer into a four-year IT-related degree program. A Java-medium exam instrument, this document details test items, preliminary results, and plans for course revisions based on assessment data.
[Late-stage draft under development] High-stakes, point-scored test often erodes learning culture by entangling the exploration of interesting content with stress-inducing point-based grading systems. This document describes an assessment system that expands the traditionally test-centered approach to include informal, frequent micro-assessments.
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Teaching Portfolio (June 2017):Lesson activities, unit plans, reflections on student work, and sample learning objective evaluation matrices.. 89 pages with extensive Table of Contents (PDF)
Curriculum Guide (Computer Mapping, 2017):Community-oriented digital mapping: The YES high School summer scholars program (PDF | 30-pages | 10.2mb).
Structured around a two-month community-based research program, this guide provides unit- and lesson-level objectives and assessment measures appropriate for students learning computer mapping fundamentals.
"White paper" (2016):Data Fluency for Organizations - Key Principles (PDF)
Derived from work on various projects relating to digital information processing, data visualization, and "data-based" decision making.
Curriculum Guide (HS College Prep, 2014):College and Career Readiness (high school course) unit plan, unit schedule, lesson objectives, and a sample lesson plan. (PDF)
Prepared for the College Readiness Department of Achievement First Charter Schools in New Haven, CT.
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CCAC ResourcesEmployment & Internships |
Carpentry and Electronic ProjectsChoose the one right tool. If turns out to be the wrong one, try another...and so forth.
 Roof Garden Transport System (RGTS): Funicular 1 construction profile and specifications. Feb 2017. A somewhat exhaustive construction profile for this project including a bunch of diagrams, photos, and technical design notes.
 Project report: Linux network design and implementation, CentOS server configuration, network security | Fall 2015 (PDF) Full project description complete with network diagram, configuration guides, and learning process reflections.
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Technology Rediscovery Artists-in-residence
Ferro-fluid is a liquid that produces interesting shapes in response to magnetic fields. This adventure involves creating these magnetic fields with electro magnets controlled by a miniature computer. Artist-in-residence Craig M. Darsow is tentatively scheduled to conduct his residency during Summer 2018.
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CodeConnect Municipal Code Enforcement DatabaseThe Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments
has partnered with Technology Rediscovery to implement an open source code enforcement database application which was planed and designed in the Fall of 2016 at CMU. The project is mid-way into beta design and has a scheduled beta testing phase a the end of 2018Project Source Code (JavaServer Faces)
Project Source repository on GitHub: Developing repo for project code, implemented in JavaServer Faces with a PostgreSQL back end. Actively seeking developers interested in working on this open source project who have experience with front-end development.
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Project tools & Technology Links |
Melda Scientific (1999-2006)
Lab-based chemistry course curriculaExplore newly released course curriculum archives from Melda Scientific courses taught in Rochester, MN from 1999 through about 2006. Composed of only 2-5 sessions, these were the first pilots of so-called burst education. [All files in PDF format]
Make bubbles, grow mold, dissolve stufff, and analyze crystals left over from evaporated solutions made with household solutes. While not linguistically tight, this manual was the foundation for the Crazy Chemists successful multi-day science class series.
The poor quality of the copy machine at the corner gas station does not do justice to the exciting series of lab procedures this guide outlines.
This course guide formed the basis of dozens of extra-curricular chemistry classes designed for students ages 10-14 held in Melda Scientific's 2126 Lab in Rochester, MN from 2002 through 2005.
Melda Scientific founder teamed up with the CEO of Electro Explorers to offer Rochester summer students a five-day, action-packed summer science exposure camp complete with the decarbonation of surcrose by fourteen-molar sulfuric acid!
Over two after school sessions, students were guided through the construction process of the Estes Corporation's Gemni-DC model rocket kit. Students and families met in a park on the Saturday following the class to launch their creations hundreds of feet into the air.
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Melda marketing materials |
Youth-targeted tobacco advertising data camp
Partnering with Youth Enrichment Services (YES) | July, 2018
About Data Project: Summer 2018
Partnering with Youth Enrichment Services (YES) based in East Liberty, Pittsburgh, Technology Rediscovery LLC and eight high school/college-bound students are investigating youth-related marketing strategies of big tobacco companies.
Content linksWeb resources
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Research profiles
Summer researchers assembled a personal research profile containing bio info, research logs, and findings.
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YES Summer Research Program: Lead exposure in Lincoln-LemingtonPittsburgh, PA (Summer 2017)
Directed by the East-Liberty Nonprofit organization: Youth Enrichment Services (YES)
, students in the summer research program investigate the extent of lead exposure (great wikipedia article) in the Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood and organize community action to reduce exposure. This section features content relevant to the mapping task team which Eric advises weekly.
 Mapping module curriculum guide and teaching reflections (PDF | 30-pages | 10.2mb)Discussion of mapping-related skills taught and activities implemented during 40 hours of student sessions during July and August 2017 including: suggested lesson content, student work, reflections, and tool profiles.
 Student outcomes matrix and proposed content extension (PDF | 7-pages | 90kb) Students developed skills in the following domains: academic research, field data gathering and analysis, and geospatial information tools. Each domain is broken down into knowledge and skill areas with a record of achievements and future learning suggestions.
 Quick "1-Pager": High School summer community action research program -- Mapping component (PDF 453kb)Brief glance at the skills developed by the mapping team working on the larger lead(Pb) research program. Includes screen shots of final map products and lessons learned.
Summer research program overview (Published by YES; PDF)
External Resource Links
Home Improvement 101Zoom through many of the major topics in home repair, drawing on the hard-earned wisdom of the student and instructor. With hands-on practice, familiarize yourself with fasteners, material types, sheetrock basics, electricity, plumbing, and working with contractors.
Course Info:
OSHER Lifelong Learning
Summer 2017 | 19 May - 23 Jun 2017 | Fridays 3:15-5:15 pm OSHER classroom, CMU Hunt Library (Completed) Learning Materials
Melda Scientific |
Introduction to Computerized Mapping (CCAC LND-201, Sp 17)Course Syllabus Course Schedule and class session links Great student work artifacts Final Project GuidelinesESRI Online - For building a story on ArcGIS online |
Site Content Use LicenseThis site's content (text, code, documents) can be used without permission or attribution as described in site's content use agreement.
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