Speaker:

(Multiple Speakers)

Title:

SIGSCE 2014 Preview Talks

Abstract:

Come hear about the latest research in computer science education at Georgia Tech to be presented at the 2014 SIGSCE conference.

They Can’t Find Us: The Search for Informal CS Education (Betsy DiSalvo, Cecili Reid and Parisa Khanipour Roshan)

The great number of free software and classes that are offered online for CS learning suggest that young people with technical means should be able to access tools for learning computer science (CS). These types of informal learning experiences are important in increasing motivation, community and belonging around a given topic. Experience with informal learning in CS - often introduced by parents - is associated with those who choose to pursue computer science. This study focuses on the experience of parents who do not have the privilege of education and technical experience when searching for learning opportunities for their children. The findings demonstrate that issues of access to CS education go beyond technical means, and include ability to conduct suitable searches and identify appropriate computational learning tools.

Measuring Demographics and Performance in Computer Science Education at a Nationwide Scale Using AP CS Data (Barbara Ericson and Mark Guzdial)

How do you take the pulse of a whole country's CS education at once? The advanced placement test in computer science is one nationwide, standardized data source. In this paper, we characterize who is taking the AP CS Level A exam (answer: shockingly male and white or Asian), how much it's changed in a sample of six states, and what influences exam-taking numbers.

Project Rise Up 4 CS: Increasing the Number of Black Students who Pass Advanced Placement CS A (Barbara Ericson, Shelly Engelman, Tom McKlin, Ja'Quan Taylor)

This paper describes Project Rise Up 4 CS, an attempt to increase the number of Black students in Georgia that pass the Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science (CS) A exam. In 2012 Black students had the lowest pass rates on the AP CS A exam both in Georgia and nationally. Project Rise Up 4 CS provided Black students with role models, hands-on learning, competitions, a financial incentive, and webinars on AP CS A content.

Engaging Underrepresented Groups in High School Introductory Computing through Computational Remixing with EarSketch (Jason Freeman, Brian Magerko, Tom McKlin, Mike Reilly, Justin Permar, Cameron Summers, Eric Fruchter)

In this paper, we describe a pilot study of EarSketch, a computational remixing approach to introductory computer science, in a formal academic computing course at the high school level. EarSketch, an integrated curriculum, Python API, digital audio workstation (DAW), audio loop library, and social sharing site, seeks to broaden participation in computing, particularly by traditionally underrepresented groups, through a thickly authentic learning environment that has personal and industry relevance in both computational and artistic domains. The pilot results show statistically significant gains in computing attitudes across multiple constructs, with particularly strong results for female and minority participants.

Bio:

DiSalvo is an Assistant Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology in the School of Interactive Computing where she leads the Culture and Technology Lab (CAT Lab). Her previous work includes the Glitch Game Testers, a successful program that leveraged young African American males passion for video games into an ongoing interest in computing.

Barbara Ericson is the Director of Computing Outreach for the College of Computing. Mark Guzdial is a Professor in the School of Interactive Computing. They are both PI's on the NSF Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) alliance that seeks to improve and broaden computing education at the state level, by working with individual states. Together, they won the 2010 ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Award for Outstanding Contributions in Education. Shelly Engelman and Tom McKlin were both employees of the Findings Group which handles evaluation for a number of computer science education projects. Ja'Quan Taylor is an undergraduate student in computer science at Georgia Tech who led webinars and hands-on help sessions for Project Rise Up 4 CS.

Jason Freeman is an Associate Professor in the School of Music. Brian Magerko is an Associate Professor in the Digital Media program. Together, they lead the EarSketch project, with a large group of collaborators that include this paper’s co-authors: Tom McKlin (evaluator, SageFox), Mike Reilly (computer science teacher in Gwinnett County Public Schools), Justin Permar (PhD student in HCC), Cameron Summers (MS student in music technology), and Eric Fruchter (MS student in computer science).