This workshop for computer science educators explored the introductory computing course for non-majors. The introductory computing course is not only an important one for our students, but it can also help create a cadre of students to assist faculty in their use of technology. And because of the hectic pace of technological change, the course must be constantly modified to keep it current. All these reasons argue for the importance of taking advantage of our colleagues' thinking and work on other campuses where possible.
In the workshop, explored the following questions:
The presenters, Profs. Ken Abernethy and Tom Allen of Furman University, described the course they had developed and written a text for at Furman. This course, taken as an elective by about 300 students per year, covered many of the typical literacy topics and applications, but had its primary emphasis on multimedia computing and networking. Through a series of guided activities, participants explored some of the hands-on components employed in this course.
In addition, participants were given an opportunity to describe their own courses and/or course development plans. Each participant was invited to give a presentation about what computer literacy meant on his or her campus and what directions this could have taken in the future. These presentations were central to one of the workshop's main goals which was to provide an opportunity to do some collaborative inter-campus thinking about the literacy course and its future.
We began a conversation via the Web in March/April which allowed us to refine the agenda and schedule. A primary outcome of the workshop was for each participant to take an action plan for enhancing the computer literacy course back to his or her campus for implementation during academic year 1998-99. Participants recovened for a three-day workshop conclusion in the summer of 1999 to discuss and share the results of the various academic year implementations and to reassess the conclusions reached the previous summer.
Stipend: $1,000 ($500 for each
summer's participation).
Travel: Up to $400 per summer paid by ACS.
Room and Board: Provided on Furman campus.