TY - JOUR
T1 - Computing at the high school level
T2 - Changing what teachers and students know and believe
AU - Munson, Ashlyn
AU - Moskal, Barbara
AU - Harriger, Alka
AU - Lauriski-Karriker, Tonya
AU - Heersink, Daniel
N1 - Funding Information:
Surprising Possibilities Imagined and Realized through Information Technology (SPIRIT) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored grant ( Harriger, Dunsmore, & Lutes, 2008–2011 ) and is based out of Purdue University under the direction of Alka Harriger. This program includes a summer workshop that integrates professional development for high school teachers and counselors with educational development for high school students in the field of Information Technology. ( Harriger 2009 ) The focus of this research investigation is the impact of a summer program on participants’ attitudes and knowledge about information technology.
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - Research indicates that students often opt out of computing majors due to a lack of prior experience in computing and a lack of knowledge of field-based job opportunities. In addition, it has been found that students respond positively to new subjects when teachers and counselors are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the area. The summer program described here is designed to improve high school students, teachers and guidance counselors understanding of the opportunities available in computing related fields, specifically information technology through a summer enrichment experience. The hypothesis of this work is that by exposing teachers and counselors to professional development in this field, their attitudes, beliefs and knowledge regarding information technology will be enhanced, thus impacting students' attitudes (both attending the program and beyond) with respect to information technology and their desire to pursue degrees in this area. Results indicate that the design of this summer program enhanced the knowledge and interest of high school students with respect to information technology. Teachers' knowledge was also positively influenced. Further refinements are necessary in the design of this program to improve the experiences of guidance counselors.
AB - Research indicates that students often opt out of computing majors due to a lack of prior experience in computing and a lack of knowledge of field-based job opportunities. In addition, it has been found that students respond positively to new subjects when teachers and counselors are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the area. The summer program described here is designed to improve high school students, teachers and guidance counselors understanding of the opportunities available in computing related fields, specifically information technology through a summer enrichment experience. The hypothesis of this work is that by exposing teachers and counselors to professional development in this field, their attitudes, beliefs and knowledge regarding information technology will be enhanced, thus impacting students' attitudes (both attending the program and beyond) with respect to information technology and their desire to pursue degrees in this area. Results indicate that the design of this summer program enhanced the knowledge and interest of high school students with respect to information technology. Teachers' knowledge was also positively influenced. Further refinements are necessary in the design of this program to improve the experiences of guidance counselors.
KW - Information technology
KW - K-12
KW - STEM assessment
KW - Summer workshop
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957551405&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compedu.2011.03.005
DO - 10.1016/j.compedu.2011.03.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79957551405
SN - 0360-1315
VL - 57
SP - 1836
EP - 1849
JO - Computers and Education
JF - Computers and Education
IS - 2
ER -