CPATH CDP: ProjectMT -- A Real-World, Project-Based Computer Science Curriculum

CPATH CDP：ProjectMT——基于项目的现实世界计算机科学课程

• 批准号: 0829609
• 负责人: Zhijiang Dong
• 金额: $ 14.98万
• 依托单位: Middle Tennessee State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-08-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0829609&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CPATH; CDP; ProjectMT; Real; World

Traditional computer science curriculums emphasize lecture-based classroom teaching, with limited exposure to real-world problems and projects. Often, instructor-crafted "toy" projects provide little resemblance to those that arise in the real-world. Students find it difficult to relate what they are studying to the fast-changing computing world, frequently resulting in them becoming discouraged with computer science. A CS graduate is often faced with poor preparation for professional software development and a steep learning curve upon beginning work in a real-world computing environment. On the other hand, it has been shown that in real-world project-based courses, student motivation for learning is much higher. Students are more willing to learn project related material on their own, and the knowledge learned lasts longer. The goal in ProjectMT is to enhance the CS teaching and learning experience with real-world projects woven into the entire CS curriculum. The process is further enriched with a stable and consistent local industrial connection that brings in innovative computing ideas, technologies, and real-world experiences. Bachelor's-level students will participate in the development of real-world applications, and engage in active learning of project and class-related materials. The proposed innovation in the CS curriculum will prepare each graduate to be ready to work competitively and successfully in the industry from day one. Through pilot course development, it will add to the body of knowledge on project-based teaching and learning additional findings for designing and teaching real-world project-based courses, strategies for encouraging student active learning, and challenges facing curriculum wide transformation. The project brings together faculties at MTSU's CS department, other departments at MTSU, local stakeholders and educators at area institutions. It establishes a framework that supports project-centric curriculum development. This framework includes specific components to interact with local stakeholders for project collection, evaluation, and report communication; a Project Management Course structure to maintain a database of projects, assign projects to courses, and track project development; and mechanisms to include local educators in collaborative course development and project implementation. Students in the project-based curriculum are expected to be more motivated to study in CS courses, learn the course material better, have better training for their future jobs, and be more committed to work in the CS discipline.

传统的计算机科学课程强调以讲座为基础的课堂教学，对现实世界问题和项目的接触有限。通常，教师制作的“玩具”项目与现实世界中出现的项目几乎没有相似之处。学生们发现很难将他们正在学习的内容与快速变化的计算机世界联系起来，这常常导致他们对计算机科学感到灰心。计算机科学毕业生在开始在现实世界的计算环境中工作时，通常面临着专业软件开发准备不足和陡峭的学习曲线。另一方面，事实证明，在现实世界的基于项目的课程中，学生的学习动机要高得多。学生更愿意自学项目相关材料，并且所学到的知识持续时间更长。 ProjectMT 的目标是通过融入整个计算机科学课程的真实项目来增强计算机科学的教学和学习体验。通过稳定一致的本地工业连接，带来创新的计算理念、技术和现实世界的经验，这一过程进一步丰富。学士学位学生将参与实际应用程序的开发，并积极学习项目和课程相关材料。计算机科学课程中拟议的创新将使每位毕业生从第一天起就做好在该行业竞争和成功工作的准备。通过试点课程开发，它将向基于项目的教学和学习的知识体系中添加设计和教授现实世界基于项目的课程的额外发现、鼓励学生主动学习的策略以及课程广泛转型面临的挑战。该项目汇集了 MTSU 计算机科学系、MTSU 其他部门的教职人员、当地利益相关者和地区机构的教育工作者。它建立了一个支持以项目为中心的课程开发的框架。该框架包括与当地利益相关者互动以进行项目收集、评估和报告沟通的具体组成部分；项目管理课程结构，用于维护项目数据库、将项目分配给课程以及跟踪项目开发；以及让当地教育工作者参与协作课程开发和项目实施的机制。项目式课程的学生有望更有动力学习计算机科学课程，更好地学习课程材料，为未来的工作接受更好的培训，并更加致力于计算机科学学科的工作。