Computer Science Recruitment for the 21st CenturyUniversity of Missouri – Rolla

Kristen Loesch, Laura Woodard, Advisor: Dr. Daniel Tauritz

Funded by UMR Opportunities in Undergraduate Research Experience (OURE) grant & Computing Research Association Committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research (CRA-W) Collaborative Research Experience for Undergraduates (CREU) grant

ProblemThe interest of women in Computer Science nationwide has declined 80% from 1998 to 2004. UMR’s enrollment has also shown this trend with female enrollment in computer science declining by 35.5%, and male enrollment declining by 18.5% between Fall 2001 and Fall 2006.

Students become disinterested in computer science due to negative stereotypes encouraged by not knowing what a computer scientist is and how the career is highly socially relevant.

GoalTo increase enrollment in a computer science degree program by targeting 3rd-6th graders and showing them the social relevancy of a computer science degree through “edutainment” software that presents UMR alumni as role models for the students. The software is interactive with games and puzzles. It improves the students’ interest in computer science by showing the wide variety of careers that it can lead to.

Future WorkThe program needs to be expanded to include more alumni, this will cover more career paths to increase the interest of the young students. Only a small number of the alumni who responded to our interest survey were able to be interviewed and a profile featuring them created in the program due time constraints. In addition, the program needs to spread outside of the Rolla community and be available to other elementary schools for the benefit of the students.

ResultsOverall, the kids were excited about the presentation and enjoyed themselves. One remarked “This was the most interesting thing ever!” while another said that they are interested in learning more about computers. Of the sections of the program, the kids most enjoyed the memory game and maze. The kids liked the hands-on-interaction of the software and how different it was compared to the normal classroom learning experience.

Software Features•An interactive quiz that debunks myths and stereotypes

•A storyboard how computer science (CS) is used to study effects of chemicals on the environment and frogs that features a UMR CS professor

•A map of alumni around the world to show that CS jobs are everywhere and also serves as a way to access more alumni information

•A memory game matching pictures of hardware explaining what it is when they make a match and shows a profile of an alum that works for IBM upon completion

•An interactive profile of the different variety of jobs of another alumna, ending with an interactive maze.

When exploring the ‘Edutainment’ software, students use an interactive menu to play games, complete puzzles, and browse the profiles of UMR alums.

PresentationThe current version of the “edutainment” software is created at the level of third and fourth graders. The agenda for a presentation consists of:

•A pre-presentation survey that is anonymously collected

•Introduction of presenters and computer science, based on presenters’ experiences.

•Time for students to explore the “edutainment” software singly with help as needed from presenters

•A post-presentation survey that is anonymously collected

Questions

1. Do you know what people with degrees in computer science can do for a job?

2. Do you know what people with degrees in computer science can do for a job?

3. How likely is it that you will choose to take challenge courses in computers, math, and/or science?

4. Did you enjoy this presentation?