Our son is gifted teen and a computer geek/guru (lovingly and respectfully said). How do we find computer kids

Here's a previous discussion that will give you additional info on where you might find lower priced texts: community.greatschools.net/groups/11551/discussion/219806
In fact, I invite you to "join us" in the "College and Beyond" Group (there are only a few of us who regularly participate; it seems most Greatschool members have younger kids) community.greatschools.net/groups/11551

I know about the prices of books at college level. We just went on a tour of the bioenergy lab at a nearby college and the thoughtful professor gave Jeff a biology textbook that is a sample--he said it costs $150. That is ridiculous. I know we want to keep book companies in business but why take advantage of students?

The books I was talking about were for elementary students!!! Can you believe it?

I'll have to remember ebay. That's a great idea.
For what it is worth, when I was in college (about 30 years ago) one class listed a book that we never used. Someone asked the professor about it at the end of class--like why did we have to buy it?
He wrote it....now that's pathetic and unprofessional.

Thanks for the ebay idea!
Karen

Thanks for the Java resources; I'll let my son know. Of course, I have to laugh, when you talk about school books costing $30-$50 each.....my son's private high school books cost more each than that used, and his college texts - one (that I even got on ebay) was still over $200!!! Another course demanded two texts and a workbook, plus particular supplies, and it ended up being over $400 total, just for one class!!!

As far as AP Chemistry, I will pass along your information to the mom who asked....I'm still not sure she can do a lab course by herself, but she can look into it further...

Yahoo (no not the company). I hope, hope, hope that AP is using keyboards by 2012. You mentioned dysgraphia. Someone had mentioned taking that route so Jeff could type on AP exams. I looked at the procedure you have to go through to accomplish this and thought "this is ridiculous". The purpose is what's best for the kids and for finding out what the kids do know. Their procedure for this sounded like a mouse in a maze!

Websites are no problem. I am the family computer apprentice, but I've learned a lot since I retired--especially in the area of what our son needs. He prefers the Java Tutorial website from Sun Microsystems, but you are probably better off to look at and/or try each and see what fits.

Introduction to Computer Science using Java
fp.lhps.org/scarbeau/javaonlinelessons/cs151java.html

This is from Central Connecticut University and has chapters on analog and binary signals, running Java programs etc. It comes with interactive quiz and flash cards. Very nice professor created it and responded to questions I sent to the college. FREE


The Java Tutorials (by Java company--Sun Microsystems)
java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/
Instructions, quizzes, examples etc.
This is more advanced and more updated and recommended by Dr. Kjell (from CCU) because Jeff complained that the other one was partially “outdated” (?). Dr. K said that his site is used by most high schools but if Jeff recognized some parts being outdated, he needed something more advanced--hence this site; so it depends on where the person is. Dr. K is a great professor, I think. I probably wouldn’t understand either website! It is FREE!


Animations to Assist Learning Some Key Computer Science Topics
courses.cs.vt.edu/~csonline/
This is from Virginia Tech, but not focused on Java (I don’t know how updated it is). It is interactive, quizzes, animations etc. It goes into algorithms, artificial intelligence, data structures etc; set up in modules. And FREE

PLEASE NOTE "FREE". I really believe that schools could save so much money if they used the internet more. Books are wonderful,but when they cost $30-50 per subject and each student gets several books (and the school I worked in gave them away long before being outdated or worn), it adds up. Get good books for fiction or reference and use the free sites that interact and adapt to a child's ability for instruction. Then the teachers would have more time to "interact" with the kids.

AP Chemistry--I just checked two books out from the library. I can't possibly teach this, but some teachers can so I wish some that love it would consider doing it in the summer or after school--I'd pay. It would be cheaper than college, I think--you know for labs or complex portions.

I have Barron's AP Chemistry and The Princeton Review Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam. Both give overview information and practice exams--always get ones recently published because AP exams change.

They do come with lab information. Also go to
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_chem.html?chem

and

www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/chemistry/samp.html
This site gives you sample exams so you know whether the subject is a possibility.

I really wish that either teachers (with the right skills) or college students (with the right majors) would consider doing these kinds of subjects.

There are tons of AP chemistry websites that I haven't used yet (I've just been researching).
This first one looks good.

www.sciencegeek.net/APchemistry/APtaters/directory.shtml

shs.nebo.edu/Faculty/Haderlie/apchem/apchem.html (list of many sites)

www.chemistrygeek.com/ap.htm
(has online 3D lab, too)

www.chemcool.com/

chemunder.mps.ohio-state.edu/under/microchem/microchem.htm

Most are from colleges. Type in 'AP chemistry online' and a BUNCH come up and could save schools megabucks. I guess that is a new topic I should start and then a portion of the savings should be spent on gifted education....

Good luck and share what you find!
Karen