Increasing Participation in Computer Science through Service WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT INTERNS: Byte Back Education Director and then Executive Director. Set up 25 sites with computer labs, At our peak we supervised 14 sites with about 100 classes/week, 30 interns. Gradually we turned over the sites to the organizations themselves. Won a federal grant from commerce to take interns from beginners to network admins, database programmers, and web programmers in two years. EMPLOYERS: Reliability and ability to work as part of a team! Then skills. I was recruited by ACHS, to restart their Computer Science department. ACHS is a Catholic College Prep school serving a minority population. All students take Intro to Technology or test out of it. Then students have a range of options, a “Chinese” menu of courses--you’ll hear more about that in another workshop. At Archbishop Carroll High School we are have students working with IT and Computer Science doing maintenance/troubleshooting as Tech Assistents. By Janet Lathan janetlathan@comcast.net Tapestry Workshop, UVA Summer, 2009

WHAT can students do? Maintain Lab Computers Delete Files Check Software Inventory Installation OS, Virus, etc Troubleshoot common problems (Printers) Hardware: set up/replace Assemble back-up computer systems for classrooms BEGINNING AT CARROLL: I started having student assist with IT at Carroll as part of my courses, especially Programming and Networking. The Network Class and I took on a lot of the responsibility as we had a couple of months with no IT manager. I believe this showed the administration how much students could accomplish when properly supervised. We maintained the computers in two labs replacing computers when necessary, installing software, and doing general clean-up of and we did troubleshooting, installations, and clean-up for faculty and staff. Now we also offer IT service for independent study credit. This works especially well for marginal students who need mentoring. These students may do better in all their courses because of the responsibility and motivation developed.

Student Assistants: Possible formats WHO Supervises? IT Department Contracted Interns Informal Volunteers Academic (CPS) As part of course As credit Service Hours Afterschool Club Student Assistants: Possible formats Internship: Work with the IT staff on a formal basis Volunteer Support: Work with the IT staff on an informal basis. Come when can, afterschool, lunch period, free periods About 20 students--about 50% were regular (about 20% girls) I generally look for a tech savy student or two in each class and have them assist with IT in that class. Course Requirement: Work with the academic CPS department as part of a course for credit. 8th period course—1/2 credit/term. Service Requirement: Satisfy volunteer credit by assisting with IT Cleaned out an old computer room this way last year. Could have an IT club.

WHEN can students work? Before school During lunch During a course Afterschool Weekend Summer Formal schedule: Work with the IT staff on a formal basis Intern Contract, can be part of course, credit or stipend, specific responsibilities, specific times-scheduled, regular attendance, easier to train, can allow more responsibility. Spring 09: 10 students, (10 % girls) 2 A’s one the girl, rest B’s Informal: Come when can, afterschool, lunch period, free periods About 20 students--about 50% were regular (about 20% girls) During Course: I generally look for a tech savey student or two in each class and have them assist with IT in that class. This is part of my Programming and Network courses. I look for work that the students can do that will work towards course objectives, build skills, and meet the needs of the community. Weekends: Satisfy volunteer credit by assisting with IT at nonprofit on weekends Afterschool: Robotics club or IT club service project—set up a lab

Advantages? Responsibility is communicable Identify students with interest and aptitude Marketable skills Build community and confidence Students learn teamwork Opportunities for Mentoring School benefits too: Time, Energy, $$$ Responsibility is communicable--be responsible in one area may help with overall behavior Can teach students marketable skills: Identify students with high aptitude: hardware or software. Interest hands-on learners who may have difficultly with regular academics Identify students with high reliability, responsibility: Not always “good” students. They can get jobs with the skills. (Summer, during college) Groom students to be paid assistants in the summer or all year. Recommend for jobs--know reliability, skills. (2 girls got jobs with DCPS doing tech work Build skills and self esteem: Teens useful: Apprentice adults Give students a social presence--somewhere to belong. Shirts. Give geeks prestige Learning to work with others as part of a team: Consult with peers, know when to ask for help from IT Ayo, one of my Freshman--great momentum--needs teamwork Jon on mentoring Door always open, text message on cell phone, email Spring group have all checked in this summer. Student who graduated considering military vs college

A Recommended Process Choose your goals Who has a stake? Set Communication Set Objectives Define “Success” Who evaluates? Set Specific Tasks Who trains? Need Specific Objectives for school and for students. Who has a stake: Admin, IT, Academic, Students--bring them to the table to plan Regular communication, IT meetings--biweekly? Jon Notise IT Administrator, Beth Blaufuss, VP Academic ?, Sonya Wilson, Chair of Business Dept. How can we help students accomplish these objectives? Who will supervise? (See contract from Jon Notise, IT manager) Who will train? Who will define “success?” Who will evaluate? Specific Tasks: Need definition, info, training, and supervision. (See list in PPT from Sonya Wilson, Chair of Business Department)

Issues with Supervision “The moment you give a student responsibility, you have issues with integrity and trust.” “You have to care about the students, not just be a good tech” Jon Notise IT Administrator ACHS Supervision: Can be supervised centrally by IT or assigned to staff or teachers. Contracts if credit, service, or stipends involved. (See contract from Jon Notise) You have to decide what access the students will have to hardware, software You have to decide what access students will have to admin rights on computers Students need assistance understanding objectives--task definition Students need assistance with time management--what can they reasonable do? Students need encouragement to keep trying and/or seek assistance

Computer Science is an open door to the future! Level: ACHS had about 650 students last Spring. In Spring 09 about 50 students were involved. 10 as IT interns, 20 as IT volunteers, and 20 as part of their CPS coursework. That is 50 students with more computer experience and skills who have served the Carroll school community. A few students who worked with IT were in CPS courses, but most were not. CPS classes above the Intro to Technology level served about 140 students. So this is a substantial addition to students participating in computer science.