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Understanding and Broadening the Images
of Computing
When and Where:
Undergraduate Course 15-296
Spring 2009
Tuesday and Thursday, 3:00 - 4:20 p.m.
Wean Hall 5310
Instructor: Dr. Carol Frieze
Units: 6 (mini)
Course Description:
“Computer science is one of the most exciting scientific endeavors in recent history.
Too bad so few have had the opportunity to share the thrill”.
[S. Arora, B. Chazelle, Communications ACM 48 (2005), 31-33]
In this research and action based course we will explore computing
from a cultural perspective. We will reflect on some issues often taken
for granted e.g. are our attitudes to computing generalizable or culturally
specific? How are computing and its workforce perceived and represented
in US culture and in cultures from around the world? Can this cultural
perspective help us understand the declining interest in computing in
the USA?
The 2008
Taulbee Survey reports that "Enrollment today is more than
50% lower than it was five years ago." The 2009
Taulbee Survey notes that "Diversity in our undergraduate programs
remains poor. ...As was the case last year, nearly two-thirds of those
receiving Bachelor’s degrees were White, non-Hispanics.".
Meanwhile, in many other parts of the world, interest in computing education
and computing careers, is on the increase.
Using academic papers, web sites, group discussion and interviews we will examine some of the broad issues surrounding computing and explore, for example, how cultural images, attitudes and access to resources can impact participation in computing. We will use findings from our investigations to build an action component in which student teams develop and implement a public presentation aimed at broadening understanding of, and participation in, computing.
Tasks and Topics:
This course is aimed primarily at students who are interested in exploring
some of the broad issues of computer science and who would like to direct
their interests towards creative outreach activities, thus also gaining
experience in teaching and presenting.
Some tasks and topics:
- Self-reflection on attitudes to computing
- Identifying the role of images in determining public perceptions
of computing
- Defining and redefining what it means to be a computing professional
in the USA in the 21 st century
- Interviewing a computer science student to explore some "myths
and reality"
- Reading and analyzing research texts which may challenge traditional
thinking
- Exploring computing in other cultures and writing a research paper
on the findings
- Identifying cultural factors that limit, or encourage, opportunities
in computer science
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Debating, teaching and presenting
Grading:
Students will be graded primarily on the quality of their performance
in 3 assignments –2 individual assignments and one team assignment.
The assignments will constitute 80% of the final grade. The course will
be divided into 3 parts with grades assigned 25%, 25%, and 30% to each
assignment respectively.
Class attendance and participation in discussion will count for 20%
of final grade.
Syllabus
Introduction:
An overview of the Course Contents, Assignments, the Issues, and Grading
- What are some of the major current issues of concern relating to
computer science in the USA?
- What part do images play in these issues and in the re-production
of culture?
- What do we mean by computing and/or computer science?
- Images of the field and the people in it ( USA): "CS Stereotypes,
myths, and reality"
- Broadening participation in computing: Does this matter?
- How does our understanding of computing and images of the field
relate to broadening participation?
- Current outreach efforts: challenging images, broadening understanding
and broadening participation
- A global perspective on computing cultures
Readings: (see below)
Part 1: Issues and Definitions
- What are the issues?
- Why “Images”? Why broaden images of Computing?
- What do we mean by Culture?
- What do we mean by Computing and/or Computer Science (CS)?
"Computer science is nothing less than a new way of thinking;
explaining it to the wider world is critical to the future of the
field." [S. Arora, B. Chazelle, Communications ACM 48 (2005),
31-33]
Readings: (see below)
Assignment 1: In-class Questionnaire
Part 2: Images of the Field (USA) and Participation
in CS
- Participation in Computer Science: Data from the USA
- Broadening Participation in Computer Science: Why does this Matter?
- The Images of the Field (USA): Myths, Stereotypes, Reality and Challenges
Readings: (see below)
Assignment 2: Due
Date: TBA
Part 3: Outreach and Broadening Understanding
of CS
- Current Outreach Efforts
- Presenting New Images of the Field and the People in it
- Readings and Outreach Assignment 3.
Students will read about, and see videos of, some current outreach
efforts and assess their potential impact for broadening participation.
Discussion will focus on creativity, on ideas and preparation for
presentations.
Readings/viewings: (see below)
Assignment 3: Due
Date: TBA
Part 4: A Global Perspective
In this final part of the course we will take a global perspective
on computing by looking at some case studies from other countries
and cultures. We will look at cultural influences and specific factors
contributing to different levels of participation. In particular,
by looking at the different levels of participation of women in the
field we will establish that participation in, and perception of,
computing is impacted by cultural factors.
Readings: (see below)
Assignment 4: Due
Date: TBA
Readings
Guidelines for Readings and Discussion
Be prepared to present:
-- a brief summary of the paper
-- the main argument/points made by the author
-- the evidence given to support the argument
-- any key words/phrases
-- what questions are raised?
-- what did you learn?
-- what did you find particularly interesting?
-- do you agree/disgree with the argument made by the author?
-- in what way(s) does the paper relate to this class?
-- any other points ....
Part 1. Issues and Definitions
- Peter Lee, “Shrinking Pipeline”, blog 2004
- Sanjeev Arora and Bernard Chazelle, “Is the Thrill Gone?”
Communications ACM 48 (2005), 31-33.
- Raymond Williams, “Culture is Ordinary”, originally
published in N. McKenzie (ed.), Convictions, 1958
- Roland Bathes, Selections from “Rhetoric of the Image”,
Image, music, text, 1977
- What is Computing/Computer Science?
Questionnaire responses
Selections from ACM: Computing Curricular Report 2005
Part 2. Images of the Field (
USA) and Participation in CS
- The Data: CRA Taulbee Reports 2003-2008
- The 2009
Taulbee Report
- Orit Hazzan, “Diversity
on Computing: A Means or a Target?”
- Broadening Participation in Computing Research and Education
[2004 CRA report]
- Blum, L. and Frieze, C. "In
a More Balanced Computer Science Environment, Similarity is the
Difference and Computer Science is the Winner," Computing
Research News, Vol. 17/No. 3 2005(a)
- Claude Steele “A
Threat in the Air: How Stereotypes Shape Intellectual Identity
and Performance”, American Psychologist. Volume: 52.
Issue: 6. 1997. Page Number: 613. 2003 Dec Vol 95(4) 796-805
- Shih, M., Pettinsky, T. and Trahan, A. “Domain Specific
Effects of Stereotypes on Performance”, Faculty Research
Working Papers Series, Harvard School of Government, 2005
Part 3. Outreach and Broadening
Understanding of CS
- University of Washington: Why Choose CSE? videos
- SCS and Women@SCS Outreach Roadshows
- Computer Science Teachers’ Association (CSTA) Careers Resources
- ACM Careers Brochures
- CS Unplugged
- CS4FN
Part 4. A Global Perspective
- Leaonard Lynn and Harold Salzman, "The Real Global Technology
Challenge”, Change, July/August 2007
- Vashti Galpin, "Women in Computing around the world", ACM Press, SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 34, Issue 2, 2002
- Globalization and Offshoring of Software: A Report of the ACM
Job Migration Task Force, 2006
- Hasmik Gharibyan and Stephan Gunsaulus "Gender Gap in Computer Science Does Not Exist in One Former Soviet Republic: Results of a Study",
ITiCSE'06, ACM June 26–28, 2006
- BusinessWeeK Online: "A Lesson in Computer Literacy from
India's Poorest Kids", 2000
- Mazliza Othman and Rodziah Latih, “Women in Computer Science:
NO SHORTAGE HERE!” Communications of the ACM, Vol. 49. Number
3, 2006
- Paul Brand and Anke Schwittey, "The Missing Piece: Human-Driven
Design and Research in ICT and Development", IEEE 2006
- Larisa Eidelman and Orit Hazzan, “Factors influencing
the Shrinking Pipeline in high schools: A sector-based analysis
of the Israeli high school System”, Proceedings of SIGCSE
2005 - The 36th Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education,
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, pp. 406-410. 2005
- Bill Gates: World Economic Forum 2008
- Selections from news articles...
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