Georgia Computes!Georgia Computes!

Barbara EricsonBarbara EricsonInstitute for Computing EducationInstitute for Computing Education

Georgia TechGeorgia TechNov 29Nov 29thth 2006 2006

Broadening Participation in Broadening Participation in ComputingComputing

National Science Foundation (NSF) National Science Foundation (NSF) grantgrant• 2 million over 3 years2 million over 3 years

The goal is to increase the number of The goal is to increase the number of students in computing in Georgiastudents in computing in Georgia• Especially womenEspecially women• And under-represented minoritiesAnd under-represented minorities

There is a Shortage of CS StudentsThere is a Shortage of CS Students

The number of CS majors has dropped The number of CS majors has dropped 40% since 200140% since 2001• NationwideNationwide

The percentage of women has dropped to The percentage of women has dropped to about 15%about 15%• From a high of about 40% in the early 80sFrom a high of about 40% in the early 80s

There has never been representative There has never been representative numbers of African Americans, Hispanics, numbers of African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americansand Native Americans

What is Driving Women Away?What is Driving Women Away? Myth: All the jobs are goneMyth: All the jobs are gone

• We are in a shortage situationWe are in a shortage situation Microsoft has 5,000 jobs they can’t fillMicrosoft has 5,000 jobs they can’t fill

• The shortage is predicted to grow The shortage is predicted to grow Myth: All you do is sit at a computerMyth: All you do is sit at a computer

• Team work is importantTeam work is important• Many CS jobs require great people skillsMany CS jobs require great people skills

Myth: The job is boring and tediousMyth: The job is boring and tedious• Money magazine rated Software Engineer as Money magazine rated Software Engineer as

the #1 jobthe #1 job Based on creativity, growth, pay and other factorsBased on creativity, growth, pay and other factors

Lack of knowledge about the fieldLack of knowledge about the field

Georgia Computes PlanGeorgia Computes Plan University LevelUniversity Level

• Workshops for Georgia undergrad facultyWorkshops for Georgia undergrad faculty• Workshop and seed money to start other summer campsWorkshop and seed money to start other summer camps

High School LevelHigh School Level• Continue teacher workshopsContinue teacher workshops• Place 4 STEP students in high schoolsPlace 4 STEP students in high schools• Pay undergrads to work with girl scouts and YWCAPay undergrads to work with girl scouts and YWCA

Middle School LevelMiddle School Level• Pay undergrads to work with girl scouts and YWCAPay undergrads to work with girl scouts and YWCA

All LevelsAll Levels• On-line space to support and encourage studentsOn-line space to support and encourage students

Work with Girl ScoutsWork with Girl Scouts

Started April 2005Started April 2005• LEGO Robot workshopsLEGO Robot workshops

Sat-Sun Dad and me sessions in September Sat-Sun Dad and me sessions in September Sat 4 hour workshops (10am – 2pm)Sat 4 hour workshops (10am – 2pm)

• Robot basics Nov 11, 2006Robot basics Nov 11, 2006• Robot basics March 10, 2007Robot basics March 10, 2007• Advanced robotics April 14, 2007Advanced robotics April 14, 2007

• Alice workshop (10am – 2pm)Alice workshop (10am – 2pm) Feb 3, 2007Feb 3, 2007

• Would like to add PICO crickets and ScratchWould like to add PICO crickets and Scratch• Help at summer campsHelp at summer camps

Dad and Me EventsDad and Me Events

Work with YWCAWork with YWCA

TGI-TechTGI-Tech• interest girls in science, math and technology interest girls in science, math and technology

3 after school programs with 15 girls in 3 after school programs with 15 girls in eacheach• Chapel Hill Middle SchoolChapel Hill Middle School• Bunch Middle SchoolBunch Middle School• Shamrock Middle SchoolShamrock Middle School

Meet 2 times a weekMeet 2 times a week• 2 meet Tues and Thurs 4pm – 6pm2 meet Tues and Thurs 4pm – 6pm• 1 meets Tues and Wed 4pm – 6pm1 meets Tues and Wed 4pm – 6pm

YWCA PlanYWCA Plan

Have undergrads introduce the girls Have undergrads introduce the girls to computingto computing• Using LEGO robotsUsing LEGO robots• Using PICO CricketsUsing PICO Crickets• Using ScratchUsing Scratch• Using AliceUsing Alice

Assist at other sessions Assist at other sessions • Kitchen Science Investigations (KSI)Kitchen Science Investigations (KSI)• Help other volunteersHelp other volunteers

LEGO Mindstorms NXTLEGO Mindstorms NXThttp://mindstorms.lego.com/

NXT AdvantagesNXT Advantages

Easier to build than old RIS robotsEasier to build than old RIS robots• About 30 minutes instead of 2-4 hoursAbout 30 minutes instead of 2-4 hours

More powerfulMore powerful• More computing powerMore computing power• Ultrasonic sensorUltrasonic sensor• Built-in rotation sensorsBuilt-in rotation sensors• Rechargeable batteryRechargeable battery

Can be used in competitionsCan be used in competitions• FIRST LEGO LeagueFIRST LEGO League• RoboCup JuniorRoboCup Junior

PICO CricketsPICO Crickets

Arts and Crafts for the Digital AgeArts and Crafts for the Digital Agehttp://www.picocricket.com/

Cricket AdvantagesCricket Advantages

Creative projectsCreative projects• Not just cars, tanks, and sumobotsNot just cars, tanks, and sumobots

Girl friendlyGirl friendly• Many girls think of LEGOs as a toy for Many girls think of LEGOs as a toy for

boysboys Easy to programEasy to program

• Simple to use drag-and-drop softwareSimple to use drag-and-drop software

AliceAlice

Free software Free software from CMUfrom CMU• Drag and drop Drag and drop

programmingprogramming• Create 3d Create 3d

movies and movies and gamesgames

• Has been Has been shown to help shown to help students students succeed in succeed in intro coursesintro courses

http://www.alice.org/

ScratchScratch

Free software from Free software from MITMIT• Drag and drop Drag and drop

programmingprogramming• Create 2d Create 2d

animations and animations and gamesgames

• Just released but we Just released but we used a beta version used a beta version in the middle school in the middle school campcamp

http://scratch.mit.edu/

What do I need?What do I need? Students who can work some weekendsStudents who can work some weekends

• With the girl scoutsWith the girl scouts Students who can work Tues, Wed, or Thurs from Students who can work Tues, Wed, or Thurs from

4pm – 6pm (but with travel about 3pm-7pm)4pm – 6pm (but with travel about 3pm-7pm)• With the YWCAWith the YWCA

Students who can create projects for middle and Students who can create projects for middle and high school studentshigh school students• We will try them on the girl scouts and YWCAWe will try them on the girl scouts and YWCA• We will use them in summer campsWe will use them in summer camps• We will distribute to 4,000 teachers at NECCWe will distribute to 4,000 teachers at NECC

Students who can count and sort robot kitsStudents who can count and sort robot kits• We lend kits to teachers for up to 3 weeksWe lend kits to teachers for up to 3 weeks

Additional small jobs like giving a talk at a schoolAdditional small jobs like giving a talk at a school

What do I need?What do I need?

Mostly female studentsMostly female students Students who enjoy working with Students who enjoy working with

middle and high school kidsmiddle and high school kids Students who like learning new Students who like learning new

things and coming up with ideas that things and coming up with ideas that are funare fun

Students who are enthusiastic about Students who are enthusiastic about computing!computing!

Next StepsNext Steps

Send me (ericson@cc.gatech.edu)Send me (ericson@cc.gatech.edu)• What jobs you are interested inWhat jobs you are interested in• Hours and days you are availableHours and days you are available• Number of hours you currently work for Number of hours you currently work for

Georgia TechGeorgia Tech• Why you are interested in this job?Why you are interested in this job?• Do you have transportation?Do you have transportation?• 1-2 references1-2 references• Your resumeYour resume

Next StepsNext Steps

I will interview in December and JanI will interview in December and Jan I would like to have at least some I would like to have at least some

people hired by Janpeople hired by Jan Once you are hired we will pay you Once you are hired we will pay you

as we train youas we train you We will pay for all travel costsWe will pay for all travel costs You will submit a time sheet to be You will submit a time sheet to be

paid and paid once every 2 weekspaid and paid once every 2 weeks

Questions?Questions?

Do I have to work 15 hours a week?Do I have to work 15 hours a week?• No, if you only want to work a few hours No, if you only want to work a few hours

a week occasionally that is fine.a week occasionally that is fine.• You can’t work more than 20 hours for You can’t work more than 20 hours for

Georgia Tech a week.Georgia Tech a week. Do I have to work every week?Do I have to work every week?

• NoNo What is the pay?What is the pay?

• Up to $16 an hour (average $12)Up to $16 an hour (average $12)