CPATH Workshop at Virginia Tech

1. Goals & Format of
Workshop
Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones
Computer Science
Virginia Tech
Thursday, November 1, 2007 1

2. NSF/CISE - CPATH
Computing has permeated and in many cases
transformed almost all aspects of our everyday lives.
As computing becomes more important in all
sectors of society, so does the preparation of a
globally competitive U.S. workforce with knowledge
and understanding of critical computing concepts,
methodologies, and techniques. Unfortunately,
despite the deep and pervasive impact of computing
and the creative efforts of individuals in a small
number of institutions, undergraduate computing
education today often looks much as it did several
decades ago.
Thursday, November 1, 2007 2

3. NSF/CISE - CPATH
CISE is calling for colleges and universities to
work together, and with other stakeholders
in undergraduate computing education
including industry, professional societies and
other types of organizations, to formulate
and implement plans to revitalize
undergraduate computing education in the
United States.
Thursday, November 1, 2007 3

4. Goals of Workshop 1
• How can we describe the computing
discipline to students in a way that conveys
more than the mere computational aspects
of the discipline?
• Ideally, we want to think of the
computing discipline as a way to study
and build computational devices that
support creativity and expression...
Thursday, November 1, 2007 4

5. Goals of Workshop 1
• How is computing studied in the context of
another discipline (e.g., architecture, art,
writing, theater, music) and what can we
learn from them?
• What do the other disciplines need from
computing to make the most of the
knowledge exchange?
Thursday, November 1, 2007 5

6. Employment Patterns
by Discipline*
Fraction of disciplinary graduates employed in that profession:
Life Sciences Chemical and Mathematics Engineering Computer and
Physical Sciences Info Sciences
Fraction of professionals with degrees in that discipline:
Life Sciences Chemical and Mathematics Engineering Computer and
Physical Sciences Info Sciences
SOURCE: National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Statistics, SESTAT (Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System), 1999, as
presented by Caroline Wardle at Snowbird 2002
* based on presentation given by Eric Roberts at SIGCSE 2003
Thursday, November 1, 2007 6

7. Some of the problems
we face...
• Lack of diversity, problems attracting
women and minorities
• Low enrollments yet high demand for
graduates
• Few opportunities in high school to take
appropriate courses
• Myth: dot-com bust or outsourcing meant
no more jobs
Thursday, November 1, 2007 7

8. Things to consider...
• To our colleagues from other disciplines:
• How is computing taught in your
disciplines?
• What sort of knowledge “prerequisites”
do you find work best?
• Do you face some of the same problems
we face?
Thursday, November 1, 2007 8

9. Format of Workshop
• 5 presentations followed by discussions
• End of the day “recap”
• Ask lots of questions
• Focus on goals presented above
• Survey at end of workshop
• Use online resources for discussion:
http://groups.google.com/group/rethinking-csed/
Thursday, November 1, 2007 9

10. Workshop Participants
• Many backgrounds among us
• Music, English (2), Education, Arts,
Engineering Education, Information
Technology, CSE, Computing Sciences,
Computer Science (8)
Thursday, November 1, 2007 10