About IJIMS

IJIMS is a project designed to introduce middle schoolers from underrepresented populations to opportunities in computing by following the shift of journalism onto the Web. Through the institute, middle school students and their teachers create an online magazine to learn computational thinking via digital media, interactive graphics, animation, video and database design in a collaborative setting. They gain confidence in their computational and writing skills and to share their online magazine with family, friends and teachers.

The students create an online magazine as they participate in hands-on activities involving digital media, interactive graphics, animation, video and database design in a collaborative setting that is intended to develop confidence in their computational and writing skills. They can then share the online magazine with family, teachers and friends.

This research project is led by three computer science and journalism faculty and a gender-equity specialist at The College of New Jersey. The research is primarily supported through a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) program, NSF Grant Number CNS 0739173. The overall award to date includes funding for undergraduate research during the academic year and summer.

Undergraduate research during the academic year 2009-2010 and summer 2010 will be partially funded through an award from the Collaborative Research Experience for Undergraduates (CREU) program.