1. Computer Science Department
Faculty Resource Network: Curriculum Issues in Computer Science Summer 2004
Dr. Christelle Scharff
Assistant Professor
Computer Science Department
New York
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2. Outline Conveners of the workshop
Issues of the Computer Science Curriculum that were discussed
How did the workshop enrich my teaching and my research?
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3. Conveners NYU Faculty Resource Network Summer 2004
Prof. Edmond Schonberg, NYU
Designer of the SETL language
Author of the Ada 95 compiler
Prof. Clark Barrett, NYU
Software verification
Prof. Michael Lewis, NYU
Deployment of computer expertise in developing countries
Prof. Sana Odeh, NYU
Computing Curriculum development
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4. Computer Literacy
How to bring computer literacy knowledge to all students = even technophobic students?
Why is it crucial to teach computer literacy to everyone?
How to make computer topics more fun? More attractive?
Example:
Media communication courses
Learning Communities
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5. The Programming Profession
The presenters took a very traditional approach
What languages to teach in the Computer Science Curriculum?
Java, C, C++
Not discussed
Modern software development process models
Agile methodologies
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6. The Wired Society New opportunities offered by the Web
Social, technical, ethical problems linked with the Web
Security
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7. The Common Roots of Mathematics and Computing
Software bugs cost the US economy 59.5 billions dollars [National Institute of Standard of Technology]
How much mathematics should undergraduate computer science majors be exposed to?
What are the important areas of mathematics that are the most beneficial to software engineers, web programmers, and to future researchers?
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8. Open the Doors to Research
Computer Science Education Research
Research
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9. Computer Science Education Research
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10. Import/Export into/from CS Education
How to make computer topics more fun?
Learning Communities
Living/Learning Communities
offer many ideas import to computer science education research
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11. Programming Languages
CS Programming Languages and Implementation
Pilot: Use of the Microsoft .NET platform
One platform and multiple languages
Experimentation with different paradigms
Use of .NET SML (functional programming language)
Joint work with Dean Anderson
2 students: Peter Black and Viktor Geller
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12. Integrating Mathematical Thinking into the CS Curriculum and Computing Courses
Mathematical Thinking Group:
Mathematical Thinking: “Applying mathematical techniques, concepts and processes, either explicitly or implicitly, in the solution of problems -- in other words, mathematical modes of thought that help us to solve problems in any domain. …”
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13. Integrating Mathematical Thinking into the CS Curriculum and Computing Courses
Past projects:
The Thinking Through Computing Learning Community with Dr. Harold Brown, Philosophy Department
Introduction of Functional Programming into a Discrete Mathematics Course
Future projects:
Graduate course on Software Validation and Verification (MS in Software Design and Development)
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14. Research
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15. Little Engines of Proof
Formal Software verification
Decision procedures for equalities
Is s=t true in all models of a set of equalities E?
CAFME (Center for the Advancement of Formal Methods in Education)
The ‘Little Engines of Proof’ NSF grant with SRI and Clarkson University
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16. Thanks
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