georgia computes! improving computer science education in georgia
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Georgia Computes! Improving Computer Science Education in Georgia. Barbara Ericson Director Computer Science Outreach Institute for Computing Education (ICE) Georgia Institute of Technology http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt/ [email protected]. What is Computer Science?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Georgia Computes!Georgia Computes!Improving Computer Science Improving Computer Science Education in GeorgiaEducation in Georgia
Barbara EricsonBarbara EricsonDirector Computer Science OutreachDirector Computer Science OutreachInstitute for Computing Education (ICE)Institute for Computing Education (ICE)Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technologyhttp://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt/http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt/[email protected]@cc.gatech.edu
What is Computer What is Computer Science?Science?
The The study of computersstudy of computers and and algorithmic processes including algorithmic processes including their principles, their hardware and their principles, their hardware and software design, their applications, software design, their applications, and their impact on societyand their impact on society
It is notIt is not Keyboarding, Computer Keyboarding, Computer Applications, or Educational Applications, or Educational TechnologyTechnology
What is Georgia What is Georgia Computes?Computes?
A A statewide vertical alliancestatewide vertical alliance – Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology– Georgia Dept of EducationGeorgia Dept of Education– Girl Scout Council of Greater Atlanta, Girl Scout Council of Greater Atlanta,
IncInc– YWCA Teen Girls in TechnologyYWCA Teen Girls in Technology
Funded by a Funded by a National Science National Science FoundationFoundation Broadening Broadening Participation in Computing grantParticipation in Computing grant
What are the goals?What are the goals?
To increase the To increase the number and number and diversity of studentsdiversity of students who are who are interested in computer science in interested in computer science in GeorgiaGeorgia– increase by 50% the number of high increase by 50% the number of high
schools offering AP CS in Georgiaschools offering AP CS in Georgia– Double the percentage of women and Double the percentage of women and
underrepresented minorities taking underrepresented minorities taking AP CSAP CS
Why increase interest?Why increase interest?
Since 2001 there has been a Since 2001 there has been a 60% 60% dropdrop in incoming freshman who in incoming freshman who plan to major in computer scienceplan to major in computer science
A reduction occurred in the A reduction occurred in the number of students who take AP number of students who take AP CS in GeorgiaCS in Georgia– huge decline in African Americanshuge decline in African Americans
from 80 in 2001 to 12 in 2007from 80 in 2001 to 12 in 2007
CS in CrisisCS in Crisis
There will be There will be 1,000,0001,000,000 computer and computer and information related information related jobsjobs by 2014 by 2014
We expect to We expect to only graduateonly graduate only only enough trained people for enough trained people for 50%50% of these of these jobsjobs– the Business Roundtable talked about this the Business Roundtable talked about this
shortageshortage The field was 37% female in 1985 The field was 37% female in 1985
– but only 12% of incoming freshman are but only 12% of incoming freshman are female in CSfemale in CS
– there have never been very many African there have never been very many African Americans or Hispanics in CSAmericans or Hispanics in CS
CS is Fundamental!CS is Fundamental!
Computing jobsComputing jobs are among the are among the fastest fastest growinggrowing over the next 4-6 years over the next 4-6 years– Computing + X will grow even fasterComputing + X will grow even faster
Many science and math degrees Many science and math degrees requirerequire knowledge of knowledge of computingcomputing– At Georgia Tech everyone must take and At Georgia Tech everyone must take and
pass an introductory computer science pass an introductory computer science coursecourse
CS teaches CS teaches 2121stst century skills century skills– problem solving and working in teamsproblem solving and working in teams
ICE EffortsICE Efforts
For K-12 educatorsFor K-12 educators– helped create the new Georgia helped create the new Georgia
Performance Standards in computing and Performance Standards in computing and the computing pathwaythe computing pathway
– helped create a CS endorsementhelped create a CS endorsement– offer 4 one-week summer teacher offer 4 one-week summer teacher
workshopsworkshops– offer several one-day teacher workshops offer several one-day teacher workshops
during the school yearduring the school year– creating interesting course materials and creating interesting course materials and
lesson planslesson plans
Computing PathwayComputing Pathway
Level II - CS in the Modern World
Level II - Computing in the Modern World
ACM Model Curriculum Georgia Computing Curriculum
Level III - Computer Science as Analysis and Design
Level IV – Topics in Computer Science – including CS AP A and AB
Level III - Beginning Programming
Level III - Intermediate Programming
Level IV – Topics in Computer Science – including CS AP A and AB
Old Georgia Computing Classes
Computer Applications
IT Foundations
Programming and Systems Management
CS AP A and AB
CS EndorsementCS Endorsement
Voluntary endorsementVoluntary endorsement– equivalent to a equivalent to a minor in Computer minor in Computer
Science Science Can be added to Can be added to any existing any existing
teaching certificateteaching certificate Based on a Based on a NCTAE endorsementNCTAE endorsement Existing CS teachers can get the Existing CS teachers can get the
endorsement by submitting a endorsement by submitting a portfolioportfolio
Summer Teacher Summer Teacher WorkshopsWorkshops Computing in the Modern WorldComputing in the Modern World
– for teachers with no experience in for teachers with no experience in computer sciencecomputer science
Beginning Programming in JavaBeginning Programming in Java– teaches textual programming by teaches textual programming by
manipulating mediamanipulating media Intermediate Programming in JavaIntermediate Programming in Java
– focuses on graphical user interfaces. focuses on graphical user interfaces. games, and software engineeringgames, and software engineering
Advanced Placement CS A and ABAdvanced Placement CS A and AB
Computing in the Modern Computing in the Modern WorldWorld
Beginning Prog in JavaBeginning Prog in Java
Intermediate Prog in Intermediate Prog in JavaJava
AP A and ABAP A and AB
Interesting Course Interesting Course MaterialMaterial Media ComputationMedia Computation
– modify pictures and sounds by writing programs in Python and modify pictures and sounds by writing programs in Python and JavaJava
ScratchScratch– learn computing concepts while creating 2D animations and learn computing concepts while creating 2D animations and
gamesgames AliceAlice
– learn computing concepts while creating 3D movies and gameslearn computing concepts while creating 3D movies and games Alice and Media ComputationAlice and Media Computation
– use Alice to introduce concepts and use Media Computation to use Alice to introduce concepts and use Media Computation to teach textual programmingteach textual programming
LEGO robotsLEGO robots– project ideas project ideas – lending librarylending library
PicoCricket arts and crafts kitsPicoCricket arts and crafts kits– project ideasproject ideas– lending librarylending library
Media ComputationMedia Computation
Created at Georgia Created at Georgia Tech by Dr. Mark Tech by Dr. Mark GuzdialGuzdial
Teaches computing Teaches computing concepts with concepts with programs that programs that manipulate mediamanipulate media
Attracts students to Attracts students to computing and computing and increases the increases the percentage that percentage that succeedsucceed
original sound
reversed sound
ScratchScratch
Free software Free software from MITfrom MIT
Uses drag-and-Uses drag-and-drop drop programmingprogramming
Incorporates Incorporates images and images and sounds sounds
Students can Students can share created share created projects on the projects on the websitewebsite
AliceAlice
Free software Free software from CMUfrom CMU
Uses drag-and-Uses drag-and-drop drop programmingprogramming
Students can Students can direct 3D direct 3D movies and movies and create simple create simple gamesgames
Alice and Media CompAlice and Media Comp
Media Comp is the special effects Media Comp is the special effects studio for Alice studio for Alice
LEGO Mindstorms LEGO Mindstorms RobotsRobots Teach computing Teach computing
concepts by concepts by programming a programming a robotrobot– and working with and working with
sensorssensors Hands-on and Hands-on and
concrete resultsconcrete results Robot CompetitionsRobot Competitions
– FIRSTFIRST– RoboCup JrRoboCup Jr
PicoCricketsPicoCrickets
Developed by a Developed by a group from MITgroup from MIT– same group that same group that
created the created the programmable programmable brick that the brick that the LEGO robots is LEGO robots is based onbased on
Arts and crafts Arts and crafts for the digital agefor the digital age
Getting Students Getting Students InterestedInterested Summer Camps since 2004Summer Camps since 2004
– in 2008in 2008 5 weeks of middle school5 weeks of middle school 3 weeks of high school3 weeks of high school
– we provide seed money and training for other we provide seed money and training for other Georgia Universities to start summer camps Georgia Universities to start summer camps
3 in 20073 in 2007 4 in 20084 in 2008
Girl Scout workshopsGirl Scout workshops YWCA Teen Girls in TechnologyYWCA Teen Girls in Technology STEP program places CS majors in STEP program places CS majors in
schoolsschools
Middle School CampsMiddle School Camps
PicoCrickets and ScratchPicoCrickets and Scratch Alice and LEGO robotsAlice and LEGO robots RoboCup Jr campRoboCup Jr camp
High School CampsHigh School Camps
Alice, LEGO robots, and Media Alice, LEGO robots, and Media Computation in PythonComputation in Python
Girl Scout WorkshopsGirl Scout Workshops
Started in 2005 – total 190 girlsStarted in 2005 – total 190 girls– Dad and me Dad and me – 2 LEGO robot workshops2 LEGO robot workshops
2006-2007 - total 372 girls2006-2007 - total 372 girls– Dad and meDad and me– 3 LEGO robot workshops3 LEGO robot workshops– 1 Alice workshop1 Alice workshop
2007-2008 – total 1595 girls2007-2008 – total 1595 girls– Dad and MeDad and Me– Mom and meMom and me– 10 4-hour workshops – LEGO robots, PicoCrickets, 10 4-hour workshops – LEGO robots, PicoCrickets,
Alice, and ScratchAlice, and Scratch
Dad and MeDad and Me
Dads camp with their daughtersDads camp with their daughters– program a robot to go through a program a robot to go through a
coursecourse
Mom and MeMom and Me
Moms camp with their daughtersMoms camp with their daughters– do PicoCricket activitiesdo PicoCricket activities
Four Hour WorkshopsFour Hour Workshops
YWCA TGI-TechYWCA TGI-Tech
After school program at 4 local After school program at 4 local middle schoolsmiddle schools– First LEGO League teamFirst LEGO League team
Other Research Other Research ActivitiesActivities Attracting African Attracting African
American males to American males to computing by computing by having them be having them be game testersgame testers
Using social Using social networks to attract networks to attract students to students to computingcomputing
Having students Having students design a chat client design a chat client
ProgressProgress
In 2004 there were In 2004 there were 44 AP CS 44 AP CS teachersteachers in Georgia in Georgia– many of these were in private schoolsmany of these were in private schools
In 2007-2008 there were In 2007-2008 there were 86 AP CS86 AP CS teachers in Georgiateachers in Georgia– exceeded our goal of a 50% increaseexceeded our goal of a 50% increase– but still less than 25% of all the but still less than 25% of all the
schools in Georgiaschools in Georgia
Attracting Students?Attracting Students?
Huge growth in our Girl Scout Huge growth in our Girl Scout workshopsworkshops– statistically significant positive statistically significant positive
changes in attitudes from 4 hour changes in attitudes from 4 hour workshopsworkshops
There has been in increase in all There has been in increase in all female FIRST LEGO League female FIRST LEGO League teamsteams
Students report an increase in Students report an increase in interest in computing after the interest in computing after the summer campssummer camps– And some have become CS And some have become CS
undergrads at Georgia Techundergrads at Georgia Tech The percentage of non white and The percentage of non white and
non Asian AP CS takers is 22-non Asian AP CS takers is 22-28%28%
The percentage of women taking The percentage of women taking the AP CS exam is still between the AP CS exam is still between 16-22%16-22%
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Number of Students
Number of Students
Georgia CS AP A
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
year
nu
mb
er
of s
tud
ents
total
female
white/asian
minority
Barriers to DiversityBarriers to Diversity
StereotypesStereotypes– exclude females, African exclude females, African
Americans, HispanicsAmericans, Hispanics– one principal at a majority one principal at a majority
minority school won't offer AP minority school won't offer AP CS because "These kids aren't CS because "These kids aren't going to college"going to college"
The myth of natural abilityThe myth of natural ability– some people just get itsome people just get it– implies others can't learnimplies others can't learn
Lack of access and experienceLack of access and experience– digital dividedigital divide
Teachers don't recruitTeachers don't recruit– Sending a letter home doubles Sending a letter home doubles
class sizes and increases class sizes and increases diversitydiversity
Future PlansFuture Plans
Apply for a 2 year extension on the NSF BPC Apply for a 2 year extension on the NSF BPC grantgrant– and possibly 5 additional years after thatand possibly 5 additional years after that
Create lesson plans and assessment materials Create lesson plans and assessment materials for the new computing pathway using our for the new computing pathway using our workshop materialsworkshop materials– started summer 2008started summer 2008
Recruit teachers from majority minority schools Recruit teachers from majority minority schools Seed summer camps at high schoolsSeed summer camps at high schools
– gives teachers a reason to practice what they learn gives teachers a reason to practice what they learn in the teacher workshopin the teacher workshop
– should also increase the number of robot teamsshould also increase the number of robot teams Hold a RoboCup Jr regional competitionHold a RoboCup Jr regional competition
ResourcesResources
Georgia Computes websiteGeorgia Computes website– http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gacomputeshttp://www.cc.gatech.edu/gacomputes
Institute for Computing Education Institute for Computing Education websitewebsite– http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gthttp://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt//
Scratch websiteScratch website– http://scratch.mit.eduhttp://scratch.mit.edu
Alice websiteAlice website– http://www.alice.orghttp://www.alice.org
Resources - ContinuedResources - Continued
Media Computation websiteMedia Computation website– http://http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/mediaCompcoweb.cc.gatech.edu/mediaComp
-teach-teach Alice and Media Computation websiteAlice and Media Computation website
– http://http://home.cc.gatech.edu/TeaPartyhome.cc.gatech.edu/TeaParty PicoCricket websitePicoCricket website
– http://http://picocricket.compicocricket.com// LEGO education websiteLEGO education website
– http://http://www.legoeducation.comwww.legoeducation.com//
Funding SourcesFunding Sources
National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation– Broadening Participation in ComputingBroadening Participation in Computing– Course, Curriculum, Laboratory Course, Curriculum, Laboratory
ImprovementImprovement Atlanta Women's FoundationAtlanta Women's Foundation Toyota FoundationToyota Foundation Georgia Department of EducationGeorgia Department of Education Georgia Tech's College of ComputingGeorgia Tech's College of Computing
What can you do?What can you do?
Make sure that your school is offering Make sure that your school is offering computer sciencecomputer science– train teachers and counselorstrain teachers and counselors
Use an interesting curriculumUse an interesting curriculum– that emphasizes problem solvingthat emphasizes problem solving– not just cut and paste (do as I do)not just cut and paste (do as I do)
Recruit students for computer scienceRecruit students for computer science– offer summer campsoffer summer camps– do competitionsdo competitions
Companies need to reach out to younger kidsCompanies need to reach out to younger kids– if they want to increase the numbers and the if they want to increase the numbers and the
diversitydiversity