1. COMP 101: Designing a First-Year Experience for Computing Majors Welcome Penny Rheingans Carolyn Seaman Marie desJardins Susan Martin May 9, 2014

2. Symposium Goals Connect with other CS/IT faculty in MD Contribute to existing body of knowledge about challenges faced by first-year computing students (and the faculty who teach them) Share information and experiences with each other about approaches to first-year computing programs at our schools Increase knowledge about computing curricula and first-year computing courses at MD institutions

3. Introductions

4. Schedule 10-10:30:Welcome and Motivation 10:30-11:15: First Year Challenges 11:15-11:30: Break 11:30-12:30: Project Findings 12:30-1:15: Lunch and Peer Panel 1:30-2:30: Discussion

5. COMP 101: Designing a First-Year Experience for Computing Majors Motivation Penny Rheingans Carolyn Seaman Marie desJardins Susan Martin May 9, 2014

6. UMBC Computing Majors Computer Science (BS) Enrollment: 867 New: 166 freshmen, 91 new transfer Computer Engineering (BS) Enrollment: 326 New: 73 freshmen, 29 new transfer Information Systems (BS) Enrollment: 628 New: 22 freshmen, 65 new transfer Business Technology Applications (BA) Enrollment: 235 New: 14 freshmen, 22 new transfer

7. Observations Incoming students unsure about which major is right for them First-year students know little about areas of discipline and career opportunities First-year computing students have little opportunity to work together or get to know each other Incoming students may have uneven academic and professional skills

8. General Goals Help students sort themselves effectively and painlessly into computing majors. Show students the big picture of challenges and opportunities in computing. Give students an opportunity to work collaboratively to create a computing artifact. Increase academic and professional skills. Increase the retention, completion, and success among computing students, especially women and underrepresented groups.

9. Core Learning Goals 1. Increase understanding of the discipline, majors, and careers. 2. Clarify personal interest and motivation about choice of major and career. 3. Increase confidence, self-efficacy, and community. 4. Expose students to, and let them practice, design and development skills. 5. Strengthen writing, presentation, and teaming skills. 6. Teach skills in problem-solving, algorithmic analysis, and computational thinking. 7. Help students learn how to study effectively and how to access campus academic resources.