Piltdown Man or Inconvenient Truth?A Two-year Study of Student Perceptions about Computing

Michael BattigSaint Michael’s CollegeBurlington, Vermont

1. Overview & Key Literature

2. Survey Results

3. Current Grant & Project Work

Piltdown Man is a fairly well-known archeological hoax consisting of fragments of a skull and jawbone collected in 1912 from a gravel pit at Piltdown, England. The fragments were thought by many experts of the day to be the fossilized remains of a previously unknown early human (the “missing link”). The “find” remained the subject of controversy until it was exposed in 1953 as a forgery, consisting of the lower jawbone of an orangutan with the skull of a relatively modern man.

A few words about the title:

Our hypothesis is that the reports in both the general media and the computing literature that focus on off-shoring, outsourcing, layoffs, and other negative views supporting the decline of the IT sector, may turn out to be the “Piltdown Man” of the IT field in the first decade of the 21st century.

SMC Enrollment vs. Competitors

[Actual survey included 36 schools

in the North East;from last year’s

ISECON]

Fairfield University 30 4008 0.75%

St Lawrence University 18 2182 0.82%

Wheaton College 19 1561 1.22%

Skidmore College 35 2759 1.27%

Assumption College 30 2129 1.41%

Wesleyan University 41 2813 1.46%

Connecticut College 28 1872 1.50%

Middlebury College 36 2406 1.50%

Stonehill College 38 2371 1.60%

Bowdoin College 28 1734 1.61%

Providence College 66 3998 1.65%

Saint Michael’s College 41 1992 2.06%

Colgate University 59 2782 2.12%

Smith College 58 2634 2.20%

Colby College 42 1865 2.25%

Hamilton College 43 1821 2.36%

Wellesley College 55 2318 2.37%

Williams College 56 2003 2.80%

Trinity College 79 2353 3.36%

Siena College 121 3220 3.76%

Amherst College 62 1648 3.76%

Bryant University 302 3268 9.24%

AVERAGE: 49.5 2179.2 2.29%

A select look at key literature

• Chickowski, Ericka (2008) “Is There Really an IT Labor Shortage?” Baseline Magazine. http://www.baselinemag.com/c/a/IT-Management/Is-There-Really-an-IT-Labor-Shortage/4/

• Not a “peer-reviewed” article; written by a journalist with no credentials listed on the Baseline Magazine web site.

• Quotes Vivek Wadhwa of Duke: “This whole concept of shortages is bogus, it shows a lack of understanding of the labor pool in the USA.”

• The logic contends that wages are essentially flat in the IT labor market in the US and therefore no evidence of a labor shortage can be inferred in a free market economy. Furthermore, the enrollment rates for computing disciplines at America’s colleges and universities mirror the rational student’s perceptions about wages. • This is an “inconvenient truth” for my hypothesis!

A select look at key literature

• Gary Gereffi, Vivek Wadhwa, Ben Rissing, and Ryan Ong, “Getting the Numbers Right: International Engineering Education in the United States, China, and India,” 2008, Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 97, no. 1, www.cggc.duke.edu/pdfs/Gereffi_JEE_Gettingthenumbersright-USChina&India_Jan2008.pdf

• Many in the US are concerned about the widening gap of production since both China and India have been graduating engineers at an accelerated pace.

• This research shows that the gap is smaller than many think since China and India count many inferior program graduates in the statistics. As a result, many graduates in these countries experience substantial unemployment.

• This is an “inconvenient truth” for those who believe in the Piltdown Man!

A select look at key literature

• Lori Carter (2006) “Why Students with an Apparent Aptitude for Computer Science Don’t Choose to Major in Computer Science.” SIGCSE Bulletin, vol. 38, no. 1, pg. 27-31. www.imageofcomputing.com/pdf/p27-carter.pdf

• Paper is representative of many studies (see Bibliography)

• The most striking outcome of this study was that the overwhelming majority of students surveyed (80%) indicated that they had “no idea” what Computer Science majors learn.

• Furthermore, the study concluded that only 2% of respondents had a “good grasp” of what Computer Science majors learn.

2. Our Survey & Results Perceptions of Computer Science Survey

A. The following is a list of statements that have been made about Computer Science majors, please circle the number indicating the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement.

1 = Strongly Agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Disagree, 4 = Strongly Disagree, N/O = No Opinion/Don’t Know

Computer Scientists are “geeks” Computer Scientists solve difficult problems Computer Science work will eventually be done overseas and future job prospects are bleak Computer Science is a respectable occupation Computer Scientists make a lot of money Computer Scientists have many career opportunities after graduation Computer Scientists do important work that is critical to society Computer Science is a very difficult subject to study and succeed Computer Science is boring compared to other subjects/majors Computer Science is a subject that requires too much math

B. Which of the following statements describe how you feel about choosing Computer Science as a major? Place a “1” by your top answer, and a “2” by your second choice, if you have one.

_____Opportunity to get a high paying job after graduation_____Prospect of developing interesting applications such as computer games_____Opportunity to study a field that involves problem-solving_____Opportunity to study in subject that is both practical and makes use of mathematics_____Opportunity to work in a field that involves both technology and people_____Opportunity to work in a field that is constantly changing

Results for High School GroupQUESTION Top Ans. Percent

Computer Scientists are “geeks” Disagree 39.20%

Computer Scientists solve difficult problems Agree 48.74%

Computer Science work will eventually be done overseas and future job prospects are bleak N/O 37.69%

Computer Science is a respectable occupation Agree 52.76%

Computer Scientists make a lot of money N/O 40.20%

Computer Scientists have many career opportunities after graduation Agree 48.74%

Computer Scientists do important work that is critical to society Agree 44.72%

Computer Science is a very difficult subject to study and succeed Agree 33.67%

Computer Science is boring compared to other subjects/majors Disagree 35.18%

Computer Science is a subject that requires too much math Disagree 32.66%

Table 1 – Most common responses to ten statements about CS

Results for High School Group

Table 2 – Percent of students selecting a statement as 1st or 2nd motivator

Opportunity to get a high paying job after graduation 31.75%

Prospect of developing interesting applications such as computer games 15.32%

Opportunity to study a field that involves problem-solving 11.70%

Opportunity to study in subject that is both practical and makes use of mathematics 10.31%

Opportunity to work in a field that involves both technology and people 15.88%

Opportunity to work in a field that is constantly changing 15.04%

Results for High School Group

QUESTION Top Ans. Original45 Days

Later

Computer Scientists are “geeks” Disagree 39.20% 43.79%

Computer Scientists solve difficult problems Agree 48.74% 51.63%

Computer Science work will eventually be done overseas and future job prospects are bleak N/O 37.69% 32.68%

Computer Science is a respectable occupation Agree 52.76% 60.13%

Computer Scientists make a lot of money N/O 40.20% *45.10%

Computer Scientists have many career opportunities after graduation Agree 48.74% 48.37%

Computer Scientists do important work that is critical to society Agree 44.72% 50.98%

Computer Science is a very difficult subject to study and succeed Agree 33.67% 40.52%

Computer Science is boring compared to other subjects/majors Disagree 35.18% 39.22%

Computer Science is a subject that requires too much math Disagree 32.66% 37.25%

Table 3 – High School Group 45 Days Later (* N/O changed to Agree)

Results for High School Group

Table 4 – 1st or 2nd motivator 45 days later

Opportunity to get a high paying job after graduation 31.75% 35.89%

Prospect of developing interesting applications such as computer games 15.32% 14.98%

Opportunity to study a field that involves problem-solving 11.70% 10.80%

Opportunity to study in subject that is both practical and makes use of mathematics 10.31% 6.62%

Opportunity to work in a field that involves both technology and people 15.88% 17.77%

Opportunity to work in a field that is constantly changing 15.04% 13.94%

Original 45 days later

Results for College Group

QUESTION Top Ans. PercentH.S.

Table1

Computer Scientists are “geeks” Disagree 32.68% 39.20%

Computer Scientists solve difficult problems Agree 49.06% 48.74%

Computer Science work will eventually be done overseas and future job prospects are bleak N/O 39.62% 37.69%

Computer Science is a respectable occupation Agree 57.55% 52.76%

Computer Scientists make a lot of money N/O 35.85% 40.20%

Computer Scientists have many career opportunities after graduation Agree 40.57% 48.74%

Computer Scientists do important work that is critical to society Agree 57.55% 44.72%

Computer Science is a very difficult subject to study and succeed Agree 31.13% 33.67%

Computer Science is boring compared to other subjects/majors Agree/Dis* 28.30% 35.18%

Computer Science is a subject that requires too much math Disagree 34.91% 32.66%

Table 5 – Original College survey from Spring 2007 semester vs. High School Group * Tie between “Agree” and “Disagree” on the “boring” issue

Results for College Group

Table 6 – College survey vs. High School Group

Opportunity to get a high paying job after graduation 29.79% 31.75%

Prospect of developing interesting applications such as computer games 14.36% 15.32%

Opportunity to study a field that involves problem-solving 6.91% 11.70%

Opportunity to study in subject that is both practical and makes use of mathematics 6.38% 10.31%

Opportunity to work in a field that involves both technology and people 24.47% 15.88%

Opportunity to work in a field that is constantly changing 18.09% 15.04%

College H.S. Table2

College Group (IT vs. CS)

QUESTION Top Ans. PercentComp.Sci.

Table 5

Information Technology majors are “geeks” Disagree 41.86% 32.68%

Information Technology majors solve difficult problems Agree 50.39% 49.06%

Information Technology work will eventually be done overseas and future job prospects are bleak Disagree 33.33%

N/O 39.62%

Information Technology is a respectable occupation Agree 45.74% 57.55%

Information Technology workers make a lot of money Agree/NO* 34.88%

N/O 35.85%

Information Technology majors have many career opportunities after graduation Agree 43.41% 40.57%

Information Technology workers do important work that is critical to society Agree 48.84% 57.55%

Information Technology is a very difficult subject to study and succeed Agree 37.98% 31.13%

Information Technology is boring compared to other subjects/majors Agree 34.88%

Disagree 28.30%

Information Technology is a subject that requires too much math Agree/Dis** 27.91%

Disagree 34.91%

Table 7 – CS vs. IT survey * Tie between “Agree” and “No Opinion” on the “money” issue** Tie between “Agree” and “Disagree” on the “too much math” issue

College Group (IT vs. CS)

Table 8 – CS vs. IT survey

Opportunity to get a high paying job after graduation 31.17% 29.79%

Prospect of developing interesting applications such as computer games 10.39% 14.36%

Opportunity to study a field that involves problem-solving 6.93% 6.91%

Opportunity to study in subject that is both practical and makes use of mathematics 4.33% 6.38%

Opportunity to work in a field that involves both technology and people 25.97% 24.47%

Opportunity to work in a field that is constantly changing 21.21% 18.09%

I.T. C.S. Table 6

The Bottom Line: College and H.S. freshmen have similar views. “Information Technology” does not invoke substantially different perceptions than “Computer Science.”

3. Current Grant & Project Work

After two years of study and surveying, we decided it was time to stop looking at the problem and start doing something about it in our “neighborhood.”

We believe that part of the problem stems from the fact that most H.S. students hold one of two defective views of computing:

1. Applications (due to ubiquitous computing – iPods, Internet, etc.)

2. Programming (a few who take AP Computer Science)

Our desire is to expose students to the breadth and richness of computing by allowing them to explore the spectrum of interesting sub-disciplines such as: databases, networking, A.I.& Expert Systems, Ethical & Societal issues, operating systems, software engineering (incl. open source software), computer hardware, graphics, ergonomics, eCommerce, etc.

Current Grant & Project Work

Past Grants:

NSF CSEMS (#0123198, 2001) $200,000

NSF S-STEM (#0806962 , 2008) $600,000

Current Grant Work:

By partnering with vtSDA (Vermont Software Developer’s Alliance, a volunteer trade organization), Vermont higher education, Vermont K-12 Education, and Vermont Dept. of Education (i.e., State Government), we wrote an NSF ITEST grant proposal in April, 2008 ($1.5 million):

The New Technology Triumvirate: Bringing Education, Industry, and Government Together to Prepare the Next Generation of Technology Workers

Current Grant & Project Work

Current Grant Work (con’d):

The NSF ITEST grant was not funded (July 2008). We plan to revise and resubmit in 2009.

We submitted the pilot project portion of our ITEST proposal to the Vermont DOL (Dept. of Labor) as a $50,000 grant proposal. This grant was funded as of September 1, 2008.

The core idea is to create modules in concert with H.S. teachers that can be integrated into a variety of courses using topics such as:

1. Introduction to Computing 2. Programming (Alice) 3. Robotics Projects (Lego or Scribbler)4. Networks, Data Communications, Security & Cryptography, 5. Graphics, Multimedia, Interface Design & Ergonomics 6. eCommerce7. Database 8. Ethics, Society & Technology 9. Careers in STEM/ICT fields

Concluding Remarks & Questions

Mike Battig – mbattig@smcvt.edu

Collaboration with a larger group of people (e.g., K-12, industry, government) is both fruitful and frustrating!

We will attempt to measure learning outcomes by working with a team consisting of: myself, H.S. teachers, a social scientist familiar with human subjects research, and VSAC (Vermont Student Assistance Corp. – lot’s of history in surveying VT H.S. students)

Questions?

My other interesting work: AUAF

I’m currently the interim chair of ITCS at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. My role is to recruit faculty, curricular development, and occasional teaching. I spent 10 days in Kabul during July 2008. Feel free to chat with me if you want to learn more about this work. I have a 13 minute slide show (mpeg) from my summer trip.