Computer & Information Science and Engineering Directorate (CISE) National Science Foundation (NSF) CPATH CISE Pathways to Revitalized Undergraduate Computing Education

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 2 Outline Motivations for CPATH Vision for CPATH Goals and Objectives for CPATH CPATH Project Type Details Funding and Award Levels for CPATH Submission Limitations for CPATH CPATH Review Criteria Encouraged/Discouraged Project Characteristics Related NSF Programs Deadline Points of Contact

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 3 A CISE challenge “Transform undergraduate computing education on a national scale.” Why? “It is essential to U.S. leadership and economic competitiveness across all sectors of society.”

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 4 Motivations for CPATH Needs of the U.S. workforce Changes in national demographics Shifts in global competitiveness Movement towards multidisciplinary domains of knowledge in computing applications Integrative nature of the field within the discipline and across other domains of knowledge Future challenges

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 5 Goals and Objectives of CPATH Help create a diverse, agile workforce Nurture a workforce capable of leadership in the global innovative enterprise Build awareness of the strategic importance of undergraduate computing education Implement new models for undergraduate computing education Capitalize upon changing workforce demographics

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 6 Goals and Objectives for CPATH (continued) Engage national leaders Nurture computing education leaders Promote the formation of partnerships Empower transformation of undergraduate computing education Promote supporting organizational change

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 7 Overview of Four Types of of CPATH Projects Community Building (CB) CB awards support efforts that bring stakeholders together to transform undergraduate computing education. CISE Distinguished Education Fellows (CDEF) CDEF awards recognize outstanding individuals committed to leadership in the transformation of computing education and support them to explore new ideas and disseminate results Evaluation, Adoption, and Extension (EAE) EAE projects are meant to build on EXISTING examples of innovative educational approaches. Institutional Transformation (T) T grants support Implementation of innovative, integrative models for undergraduate computing education that have potential to serve as national models. Some details …

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 8 Community Building Projects Bring stakeholders together to develop a broadly shared vision and transformation strategies for undergraduate computing education Encourage strategies at regional and/or national levels and across institution types Build communities and plan activities for transformation implementations

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 9 Planning Grants CB awards may support planning activities intended to prepare for subsequent EAE and T proposals Examples of such activities might include: Community building work necessary to prepare for a multi-institutional effort Cross-disciplinary team building leading to design of an interdisciplinary curriculum model Development of innovative models based on community interactions Pilot testing of such new models

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 10 CISE Distinguished Education Fellow Projects Recognized leader Innovative action project Community support and community building Advocacy for undergraduate computing education Prestige of CDEF award and designation within department, institution and broader community

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 11 Evaluation, Adoption, and Extension Projects Adopt and/or adapt promising models Evaluate impacts of new models Expand scope of ongoing efforts Engage broader community of institutions to demonstrate potential of innovative models Disseminate lessons learned

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 12 Transformation Projects Support innovative approaches now underway across units and institutions; include community building Involve a focus broader than curriculum building and create sustainable change Potentially: Blur traditional boundaries in academic institutions Develop industry and international partnerships Single institution T grants must engage multiple academic units or disciplines T awards can also support the work of multiple institutions implementing common or related models

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 13 Funding and Award Levels for Year 1 of CPATH Estimated Number of Awards: 15 to 25 CB 1 to 3 CDEF 1 or 2 EAE 1 or 2 T Anticipated Funding Amount: $6,000,000 in FY 2007 CB projects: $50,000 to $500,000 total; up to three years duration CDEF projects: up to $250,000 total; duration of two years, with possible renewal for a third year EAE projects: up to $900,000 total; up to three years duration T projects: up to $1,500,000 total; five years maximum duration

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 14 CPATH Proposal Limitations A individual may participate in no more than 1 EAE or T proposal and 1 CB or CDEF proposal An academic institution may participate in no more than 1 EAE proposal and 1 T proposal There is no institutional limit for CB and CDEF proposals

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 15 EAE/T Additional Review Criteria EAE and T proposals Project Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Anticipated Outcomes Current State Implementation Plan Collaboration Plan Evaluation and Dissemination Plan

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 16 CB/CDEF Additional Review Criteria CB proposals Project Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Anticipated Outcomes Implementation Plan CDEF proposals Professional Qualifications Implementation Plan Recommendations

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 17 Example Project Characteristics That Match CPATH Goals Projects consistent with CPATH goals might do one or more of the following: Develop communities and foster alliances focused on transforming computing education Nurture leaders in computing education Include industrial partners Integrate international aspects Integrate other knowledge domains with computing and vice versa

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 18 More Examples Matching CPATH Goals Produce outcomes that are transportable to varieties of programs and institutions Involve multiple academic departments or units, institutions, campuses and/or organizations Create, pilot, evaluate and/or deploy innovative models of undergraduate computing education Address global competitiveness issues Projects should be a part of a well-articulated vision for change in computing education with broad national impact.

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 19 Example Project Characteristics That Are Inconsistent with CPATH Goals The goals of CPATH suggest that projects should not: Focus on K-12 computing education or schools Focus on general IT fluency of all students Focus on recruitment into computing without educational transformation Focus primarily on diversity issues

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 20 More Inconsistent with CPATH Have overly limited scope and/or impact Focus on intro course or any other single course Address incremental issues within existing curricula Overlook existing, relevant models Propose educational models that ignore the practice of the field

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 21 The Question of Curriculum Any curricular effort must be in the context of a broader vision The broader vision must be about significant change in undergraduate computing education, not just curricular experimentation Such a vision might be the result of actives within a CB project, for example

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 22 Related NSF Programs Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) Informal Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 23 More Related Programs NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Engineering Education Programs (EEP) Advanced Technological Education Program (ATE)

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 24 Deadline for Proposals January 23, 2007 [Be sure to carefully read the solicitation – NSF ]

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 25 Some Final Remarks This year …. Consider Planning Grant

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 26 Some Final Remarks What are the big keywords? Vision Collaboration/Teamwork Engagement Potential to be National Model Inter/multi/trans disciplinary Innovation Community Leadership

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 27 The big question! How does your project address the major goals of CPATH?

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 28 CPATH Program Officers Harriet Taylor, CISE/CNS Anita La Salle, CISE/CNS Janice Cuny, CISE/CNS Le Gruenwald, CISE/IIS C.S. George Lee, CISE/IIS Sylvia Spengler, CISE/IIS Joseph Urban, CISE/CCF

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 29 Additional Information FAQs can be found on CISE Website cise.nsf.gov follow the links for CPATH

NJIT - December 2006 CPATH Overview 30 CPATH CISE Pathways to Revitalized Undergraduate Computing Education Questions?