Interdisciplinary Computing Raising the Bar for Computing Education

P P rogram in I I nterdisciplinary C C omputing Florida State University P P rogram in I I nterdisciplinary C C omputing

Creating the foundation for the next generation of university-wide computing education

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Technology in College Traditional Approach Anthropology History Philosophy Business Visual Arts Social Work Engineering Economics Nutrition Criminology Motion Picture Communications COMP LIT

Technology in College Computer Literacy Circa 1996

Technology in College Computer Literacy Circa 2008

Technology in College Concepts Digital Technologies Network Technologies Business Information Systems Digital Media Information Security Skills Microsoft Office File Management Personal Information Management Internet Communications Collaborative Tools Web Development & Technologies Digital Graphics & Photography Computer Fluency in 2010 Social Issues Digital Life Intellectual Property Privacy Freedom of Speech Globalization Ethics

Discipline-specific Computing Anthropology History Philosophy Business Visual Arts Social Work Engineering Economics Nutrition Criminology Motion Picture Communications COMP LIT

Issues Waste & Redundancy – Similar computing classes taught by multiple units Drain on Unit Resources – Faculty – Technology Infrastructure and Software Shortage of Experts Anthropology History Philosophy Business Visual Arts Social Work Engineering Economics Nutrition Criminology Motion Picture Communications Discipline-specific Computing

Provided as service courses by CS Computing professionals are not familiar with computing problems from various disciplines. Non-computing students are not interested in learning computing for the sake of computing. Traditional teaching methods used to teach computing do not engage non-computing majors. By their nature, It is a challenge for any one discipline to offer interdisciplinary computing courses, and do them justice. Discipline-specific Computing Issues

P P rogram in I I nterdisciplinary C C omputing Florida State University

PIC Goal Anthropology History Philosophy Business Visual Arts Social Work Economics Criminology Motion Picture Communications Discover common computing needs between disciplines and work with colleges and departments to develop courses to meet those needs.

PIC Vision To empower all FSU students to innovate and lead in their respective fields through computing and information technologies. PIC Mission To fulfill the PIC vision by providing an infrastructure that develops, supports, and promotes a comprehensive range of application- oriented classes that capture and effectively deliver current and emerging computing and information technology needs and trends across disciplines.

PIC Organizational Structure Steering Committee Arts & Sciences Information Human Sciences Communication Business Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance Faculty Ken Baldauf Kyle Gower-Winter College of Arts & Sciences College of Information Faculty & Teaching Assistants from a variety of disciplines

PIC Course Models PIC-hosted Courses – Designed and delivered solely by PIC faculty Collaborative Courses – PIC faculty + other faculty from invested departments Department-hosted Courses – Taught without PIC faculty, promoted by PIC PIC Guest Lectures – Injecting technology modules in non-tech courses

PIC Collaborative Courses Marketing Blended lecture + discipline-specific recitations, projects, and exams Studio Art Consumer Science Information Marketing Studio Art Business Consumer Science LectureRecitation

PIC Approach Inclusive accommodating all types of students Goal-Oriented Goal-oriented approach, using discipline-specific problems provided by degree programs New Teaching Methods Use of video lessons and online learning Pair programming allows students to learn together Group projects using real-life scenarios Robust Student Support

PIC Courses Web Application Development Web Interface Design w/Java Web Site Design and Development Spreadsheet Techniques and Applications Data Management Geographic Info Systems Information Science Programming w/Visual Studio Digital Media Communications Technologies Scientific Computing Calculations using Matlab and Maple Game Programming

IDC This course prefix is designated to accommodate courses that teach interdisciplinary computing and information technologies across non-computing disciplines to provide students with the technical skills to make them competitive within their discipline. – intro/survey courses – data/information management – numerical analysis – digital media – Web Development – Programming – Information and Communication Technology – Individual and Societal Implication State of Florida Approved

PIC Supports FSU’s Overarching Goals “Maximize the opportunity for interaction, offering effective and efficient curricula, and sharing of resources among programs/units with common and/or related learning objectives.” “Ensure educational programs prepare students to meet the demands and challenges of 21st century society.”

PIC Financial Benefits Computing experts share knowledge across multiple disciplines Redundant course offerings are reduced Academic units can pool resources to invest in expensive hardware, software, and systems FSU’s Information CommonsFSU’s Information Commons – a $54 M computing facility for 2010

State of the PIC Teaching two courses Guest Lecturing Designing three courses Preparing 20 courses for IDC course numbers Meeting bi-weekly with steering committee Evangelizing

PIC Thank you! Creating the foundation for the next generation of university- wide computing education