In this project, you will explore the lives and contributions of notable computer scientists. Using the Freeform app, you'll create an interactive timeline that highlights overlapping lives and key events. After creating the timeline, you'll dive deeper into researching one individual, presenting your findings, and collaboratively enriching your peers' timelines.
Learning Objective/Intention + Success Criteria
Goal
Create a timeline that accurately displays notable people in the world of computer science using online research and citing sources appropriately while gleaning new information from peers to expand the timeline showing overlap and collaboration.
Success Indicators
Timeline features organized text, shapes, and media with connectors tied to the timeline. Information presented is accurate, cited, and organized to be easy to understand. Final Freeform board is shared via iCloud link.
Skills
Manipulating shapes, images, text, and URLs into an engaging Freeform board that conveys biographical information in an eye-catching design. Proper research technique, source evaluation, and citation. Familiarizing with Freeform, Safari, and Multitasking.
Why
This project is an effective application of Freeform that empowers learners to delve into the formatting tools across a variety of objects. It communicates the relationships between pioneers in computer science through visual progression and connection.
Instructions/Guide
Phase 1: Creating the Timeline Foundation
Set up your Freeform board
- Open Freeform and create a new board or use this template
- Title your board "Computer Science Timeline - [Your Name]"
- Create a horizontal timeline spanning from 1800 to present day
- Mark major decades with clear labels
- Practice using Freeform tools (shapes, text, connectors)
Plot the notable computer scientists
- Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
- Alan Turing (1912-1954)
- Grace Hopper (1906-1992)
- Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)
- Margaret Hamilton (1936-present)
- Tim Berners-Lee (1955-present)
- One additional computer scientist of your choice
Show overlapping lives
- Use colored bars or shapes to represent each person's lifespan
- Add concise labels with their primary contributions
- Draw connections between scientists and their information
Draw connections between scientists who worked together or influenced each other
Phase 2: Individual Research
Choose your focus person
- Select ONE computer scientist to add to the timeline (should not be the same as peer)
- Get approval from your teacher
Research requirements
Gather information in these categories:
Biography Basics
- Birth/death dates and locations
- Education background
- One major career achievement
Technical Contributions
- Their most important invention or discovery
- How it helps us today
Interesting Facts
- Two surprising or cool facts about their life
- One challenge they overcame
Connections
- Which other computer scientists they worked with OR influenced
- How their time period overlapped with others
- Create digital information cards for each category
- Use connector lines to link information to your chosen person
- Include at least 2 images or visual elements
- Keep information clear and easy to read
Phase 3: Presentation and Compilation
Present your research
- 3-4 minute presentation to the class
- Share your most interesting discoveries
- Explain how your person connects to others on the timeline
- Show your Freeform board organization
Add classmates' information
- After each presentation, add 1-2 key facts about that person to your own timeline
- Draw new connections you learned about between scientists
- Update your timeline with new relationships
Final timeline review
- Make sure your timeline shows how computer scientists influenced each other
- Add any final insights about what you learned
- Reflect on how people built on each other's ideas
- Make any final changes to your board to enhance it
- Write a short paragraph (4-6 sentences) about what you learned about how computer scientists work together
- List your sources (at least 3 reliable websites or books)
Share to submit your Freeform project
- Tap the Share button
- Tap Collaborate
- Tap Only invited people can edit
- Tap Anyone with the link
- Tap View only
- Tap Invited with Link
- Paste link into desired communication platform
Technical Requirements
- Use Freeform and Safari (browser) apps
- Timeline must show correct dates and lifespans
- Use connectors to show relationships between people
- Include at least 3 visual elements (images, shapes, colors)
- Information must come from reliable sources
Reflection
This Notable Computer Science Freeform Project is a combination of organizing information, communicating said information concisely, and opportunity to bolster research skills. Using Multitasking on iPad allows students to explore working within two apps or two windows within the same app. All in all, students should walk away from this project with a better understanding or proper research technique, iPad workflow, and creating impactful content in Freeform.
Consider a gallery walk for students to see how the same information can be organized in different ways. This is a great time to discuss what appeared more effective and to give students a chance to make final adjustments to their own timeline prior to submission.
Attach up to 5 files which will be available for other members to download.