An innovative approach for attracting students to computing: A comprehensive proposal

这是一个为期3年、耗资1,297,456美元的项目，将由全国5所高等教育机构和一个学校系统合作进行，其中宾夕法尼亚州费城的圣约瑟夫大学是牵头机构（其他合作者来自科罗拉多矿业学院、伊萨卡学院、圣克拉拉大学、杜克大学和弗吉尼亚海滩学校系统）。主要目标是吸引和留住计算机科学专业的学生，尤其是女性和代表性不足的少数族裔（包括两个EPSCoR州）。为此，该项目将使用Alice，一个利用3-D可视化方法的软件程序，作为一种媒介，在高中生中培养对计算机图形学、动画和讲故事的高度兴趣，从而建立对基于对象的编程的理解。这种对媒体和动画的IT关注与国家计算机科学标准是一致的。该项目将建立一个由大学和高中教师组成的网络，他们将在学年期间举办研讨会并提供持续支持。在每个站点，来自每所参与学校的教师对（共90人）将通过为期3周的暑期项目与大学教师一起学习，在这个项目中，教师将介绍如何使用Alice进行教学，然后为学生开发材料，然后将这些材料用于高中学生的教学。首先在一个地点进行实验，然后在另外四个地点实施，最后在第六个地点进行修订实施（1-4-1设计）。

This is a proposal for a 3 year, $1,297,456 project to be conducted as collaboration among 5 higher education institutions and one school system across the country, with St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA serving as the lead institution (other collaborators are from Colorado School of Mines, Ithaca College, Santa Clara University, Duke University, and Virginia Beach School System). The primary goal is to attract and retain students in computer science, especially women and underrepresented minorities (including two EPSCoR states). To this end, the project will use Alice, a software program that utilizes 3-D visualization methods, as a medium to create a high-level of interest in computer graphics, animation, and storytelling among high school students, hence to build understanding of object-based programming. Such an IT focus on media and animation is aligned with national computer science standards. The project will build a network of college and high school faculty, who will offer workshops and provide continuing support during the academic year. In each site, pairs of teachers from each participating school (total = 90) will learn with university faculty via a 3-week summer program in which an introduction to using Alice for teaching will be followed by teacher development of materials for students that will then be used to teach high school students. An experimental start at one site will be followed by implementation at four additional sites and culminated with revised implementation at the sixth site (1-4-1 design).