Collaborative Research: Broadening Participation in Computing through Authentic, Collaborative Engagement with Computing for the Greater Good

增加计算机科学毕业生的数量是美国经济持续增长的国家优先事项。实现这一目标具有挑战性，因为由于缺乏熟练的应聘者，每年有数百万个计算机科学职位空缺。增加计算劳动力的关键一步是增加和扩大对本科计算机科学的参与。一种经过验证的方法是将计算与社会效益联系起来，这种联系也被认为可以吸引来自传统上在计算领域代表性不足的群体的学生。通过德雷克塞尔大学、拿骚社区学院、新英格兰西部大学、伍斯特州立学院和狄金森学院之间的合作，该项目将通过NSF支持的人道主义自由和开放源码软件(HFOSS)方法在社会和计算之间建立联系。HFOSS类似于仁人家园项目，但HFOSS不是帮助社区建造房屋，而是支持开发有利于社区的自由软件。HFOSS项目的例子包括用于灾害管理、教育、经济发展和公共卫生的免费开放软件。该项目将使五个合作机构的学生能够参与到一个复杂的、真实的软件开发环境中，该环境支持协作、积极的学习，并通过真正的任务在社区中发挥作用。学生将学习当代软件工程并发展专业技能，同时获得计算对社会可能产生的积极影响的第一手经验。这个项目有可能通过使用计算为更好的作为框架来改变计算机教育，以提高学生的参与度，学习和计算机科学的多样性。除了教师指导的HFOSS开发项目，该项目将为学生提供更广泛的HFOSS教育机会，包括真实但受控的计算教室内实践环境(HFOSS工具包)以及基于社区的面向客户端的FOSS项目，该项目将教师与学生和当地非营利组织配对开发一个小型软件产品，以使非营利组织受益。实施HFOSS的计算机课程将使用面向过程的引导式研究性学习，为学生学习计算机科学和早期专业技能发展奠定基础。该项目团队进行的研究旨在促进对计算机教育的建构主义方法的了解，包括指导性探究学习和实践社区。这项研究包括对教师和学生在向主动学习转变的过程中角色和身份变化的创新研究，以及对学生参与度、保留率和多样性的研究。该项目实施和研究的循证学习方法和与真实环境的接触在STEM教育中具有潜在的应用价值。该项目由NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持，该计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与式学生学习路径，该计划支持创建、探索和实施有前途的实践和工具。它还得到了IUSE：CUE计划的支持，该计划寻求重新展望计算在本科教育中的角色，同时继续强调需要更多样化的学生群体在计算和非计算领域的职业生涯。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Increasing the number of computer science graduates is a national priority for continued economic growth in the United States. Accomplishing this goal is challenging, as millions of available computer science jobs go unfilled each year due to the lack of skilled applicants. A critical step in increasing the computing workforce is to increase and broaden participation in undergraduate computer science. One proven approach to do so is connecting computing to societal benefits, and such connection is also known to attract students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in computing. Through a collaboration between Drexel University, Nassau Community College, Western New England University, Worcester State College, and Dickinson College, this project will make the connection between society and computing through the NSF-supported Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software (HFOSS) approach. HFOSS is like the Habitat for Humanity project, but instead of helping communities build houses, HFOSS supports the development of free software that benefits communities. Examples of HFOSS projects include free, open software for disaster management, education, economic development, and public health. This project will enable students at the five partnering institutions to engage with a complex, authentic software development environment that supports collaborative, active learning with genuine tasks that make a difference in communities. Students will learn contemporary software engineering and develop professional skills while gaining first-hand experience with the positive impact that computing can have on society. This project has the potential to transform computing education by using computing for the greater good as the framework to improve student engagement, learning, and diversity in computer science.In addition to instructor-led HFOSS development projects, this project will provide students with an extended range of HFOSS educational opportunities, including authentic but controlled practice environments within computing classrooms (HFOSS kits) as well as community-based Client Oriented-FOSS projects that pair an instructor with students and a local non-profit organization on a small software product to benefit the non-profit. The computing courses implementing HFOSS will use Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning to scaffold students' computer science learning and early professional skill development. Research conducted by the project team is designed to advance knowledge about constructivist approaches to computing education including guided inquiry learning and communities of practice. This research includes innovative studies of the changes in role and identity of instructor and student that accompany a shift to active learning, together with studies of student engagement, retention, and diversity. The evidence-based learning approaches and engagement with authentic contexts implemented and researched by this project have potential applications across STEM education. This project is supported by the NSF IUSE: EHR Program, which supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools. It is also supported by the IUSE:CUE program, which seeks to re-envision the role of computing in undergraduate education while continuing to emphasize the need for more diverse student populations for careers in both computing and non-computing fields.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.