Computational Thinking Showcase: Computing Concepts across the Curriculum (Utah State University)

PI Details

Allan Vicki Vicki.Allan@usu.edu Utah State University http://digital.cs.usu.edu/~allanv/

CO-PIs

Donald Cooley

Chad Mano

Joel Duffin

Description

All recognize the pressing need for more computer science graduates, as well as the often unappealing nature of introductory classes. The goal of this project is to showcase and teach the skills necessary to thrive in computer science, while engaging a diverse student body at a variety of education levels. In order to revitalize undergraduate education in computer science and address the need for an increase in undergraduate majors, this project will use a novel three-fold approach. The community of college professors, high school teachers, and an industrial partner will plan and implement an exciting first exposure to computer science by engaging experiential learning.

Interactive Learning Modules, developed by the collaboration team members at different institutions, will serve as a vehicle for bringing innovation to the classroom. These collaboration-based experiences throughout the computer science curriculum are encouraged through a number of mechanisms, including multi-institution teams, games, and research into effective design of curricula and modules.

The modules themselves are expected to inspire creation of addition interactive modules, designed by students for students, identifying an aspect of computational thinking, a separate domain of its use and a variety of which in which the modules provides experiences

Audience

CS undergrads, K-12 teachers

Discipline

Computing in/and sciences

Pedagogic Approach

Hands on learning

Success

The majority of our effort to this point has been in designing and building the ILMs and associated lessons. As part of this development process we have engaged with university faculty members, high school teachers, and middle school teachers to obtain input and advice in all aspects of the design of the ILMs. We feel that the success of this project, in terms of the effect it has on students, depends on the community of educators that utilize the system in their classes. Thus, we view our building of a community of teachers and the support they have shown for this project as critical successes at this stage of the project.

Challenge

How to assess

Future Plan

The next phase of the project will focus on larger scale deployment of the ILMs into the room.