Teaching computing for everyone
Mark Guzdial · UCLA - Biblioteca de Ciencias y Tecnologia Felix Morales Bueno · 2006
Several computing programs in the US are developing new kinds of introductory computing courses for non-computing majors, some with support from the NSF CPATH program. At Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), they are entering their 10th year of teaching computing to every undergraduate on campus. In fall 1999, the faculty at Georgia Tech adopted a requirement that all students must take a course in computing. The class received significant faculty interest and used innovative curricula. Faculty and students are happier with the new courses. The success rates rose above 80% in both the engineering and media courses. Finally, building successful, high-demand courses for non-computing majors gives them a different perspective on the current enrollment crisis. Other schools on campus want to collaborate with them to build even more contextualized classes. While they still want more majors, they have an immediate need for more faculty time to develop and teach these courses that bring real computing to all students on campus.