1. The Emerging Scholars Program
Chris Murphy
University of Pennsylvania

2. About Me Full-time lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania
Earned PhD-Computer Science from Columbia in 2010
Helped launch Columbia’s Emerging Scholars Program (ESP) in 2008

3. Emerging Scholars Program
An outreach program that seeks to draw more women and under-represented minorities into Computer Science
Focuses on Computer Science as a collaborative problem-solving activity
Based on Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL)

4. Outline What is PLTL? What is ESP? How is it used at Columbia?
Sample exercises
Implementing PLTL in high schools
Rita Powell: NCWIT

5. Trends in CS enrollment
Taulbee Survey of CS undergrads
50% drop in enrollment since 2001
11.8% female
5.3% Hispanic
3.6% African-American
Many other studies reflect the low interest in CS by females and minorities

6. Goals Increase the number of female and minority students who take CS1
Increase the retention rate in those groups
Number of students who complete the class
Increase the number of students who continue into CS2 (and possibly major in CS)

7. Approach Dispel common myths about CS
Boys’ club
Only programming
No jobs
No societal impact
Demonstrate that Computer Science is
a COLLABORATIVE activity
that focuses on PROBLEM SOLVING

8. What is Peer-Led Team Learning?
Weekly, 1-2 hour group meetings in addition to regular class
5 – 8 students per group led by a well-trained undergrad Peer Leader
Interesting CS-related problems to be solved as a group
Used in STEM since the 70s

9. PLTL is not….. … office hours … extra help
… “computer science for girls”

10. PLTL Workshops
Peer Leader presents a problem from an area of computer science
Students work together to solve the problem
Peer Leader is leading, not teaching
Material tends to match what is covered in the CS1 lecture but is supplementary

11. Why PLTL? Factors affecting intellectual development in college:
Student faculty interaction outside the classroom
Involvement on campus through various forms of community-building activities
Involvement with student peer groups
Peer groups: “the most potent source of influence on growth and development during the undergraduate years”
A.W. Astin, What Matters in College?

12. LECTURE
PLTL

13. Effects on Students Better / deeper understanding of material
Lower drop rates
Better grades (usually)
Formation of social groups
Very high satisfaction!

14. Effects on Peer Leaders
Better understanding of the material
Increased confidence to continue in CS
Appreciation for different teaching and learning styles
Improved leadership skills
Collegial relationship with faculty

15. NSF Grant for PLTL-CS

16. PLTL at Columbia
Emerging Scholars Program (ESP) started in Spring 2008
Six participants, one Peer Leader, one Assistant
Women only
Seed fund grant received from NCWIT in Summer 2008
Currently two coed sections of 8-10 participants each

18. ESP Differentiating Features
Selective: students are recruited and then apply to the program
No Java! Only problem solving
No homework! The one-hour workshops are self-contained

19. ESP Topics Designing and communicating algorithms Decision trees
Encoding & encryption
Natural language processing
Biometrics
HCI and Information Visualization
Graph theory
Ethical issues

20. 1. “Mä hach’a challwawa challwataxa.”
2. “Kimsa hach’a challwawa challwataxa.”
3. “Mä challwa mä hach’a challwampiwa challwataxa.”
4. “Mä hach’a challwa kimsa challwallampiwa
challwataxa.”
5. “Paya challwallawa challwataxa.”
6. “Mä challwalla paya challwampiwa challwataxa.”
7. “Kimsa challwa paya challwallampiwa challwataxa.”

21. Marge
Bart
Milhouse
Maggie
Homer
Ralph
Lisa
Flanders

22. Student Quotes
“These workshops gave me a better perspective of what computer science is. I have learned that it is extremely useful and pertains to problems and issues that are in our daily lives.”
“It was extremely rewarding to participate in something in which I not only found academic value but also social and recreational value.”
“I loved it, learned from it, and enjoyed my time. Even people who are not interested in computer science would find these workshops interesting. It’s about problem solving and looking at things in a new light.”
“The program was fun as well as very interesting. It really gave me an idea of what kinds of problems are solved in computer science and how it involves creativity.”

23. Success Stories Kim Manis (Peer Leader, Spring 2008)
Software Engineer at Microsoft
Sahar Hasan (Peer Leader, Fall 08-Spring 09)
CRA-W Distributed Research Experience for Undergraduates – Princeton Univ.
CRA Undergraduate Researcher Award (Hon. Mention)
Software Engineer at BlackRock
Elba Garza (Peer Leader, Fall 09-Spring 10)
CRA-W Distributed Research Experience for Undergraduates – Georgia Tech

24. Women’s Representation in the Computer Science Major at Columbia 2005-2010 5 10 15 20 25
% of women CS majors
Start of ESP

25. PLTL4HS: How to get PLTL implemented at your high school

26. Yes, you can do PLTL in HS! Successfully done in chemistry and physics
College-bound students will see it as a way to differentiate themselves in their applications
Especially the Peer Leaders
Requires initial investment from YOU

27. Major Challenges Finding Peer Leaders Training Peer Leaders
Selecting Materials
Institutional Issues

28. Finding Peer Leaders
Ideally someone who has already participated in the program
Excellent interpersonal skills: Interactive, communicative, supportive, positive, responsive, respectful of others
They don’t need to be experts
Committed to the program’s success

29. Where/How to Look Did well in PLTL course and other CS courses
Peer leader recommendations
Demographics you want to support
Availability (initial training, weekly meetings, sessions)
Personal invitations and/or application
Interviews

30. Training Peer Leaders
General training should start before the workshops commence
A few hours
Content-specific training before each workshop
At least one hour
Organizational memory is very important

31. General Training Expectations of a peer leader
Peer leader goals and concerns
Running Peer-led sessions, esp. the first one
Group work
Diverse student learning styles
Sensitivity to race and gender

32. Expectations of Peer Leaders
Time with students, for meetings, prep time
Effectively run sessions
Keeping student attendance
Writing a journal
Honest feedback of sessions and their observations
Setting boundaries

33. Common Peer Leader Concerns
Running out of material or not finishing
Embarrassing self
Not knowing if doing right/wrong
Not being liked
Fear of public speaking
Knowing role: student/leader/….
Problems cannot deal with
Personal safety
Talking too much or not enough

34. Selecting Workshop Materials
Workshops should ideally cover a wide range of topics from within CS
Students tend to like activities with “right” answers
For programming-related topics, pltlcs.org is a good place to start

35. Institutional Issues
How will Peer Leaders (and participants) be compensated?
How will the program be funded?
How can you measure the success of the program?

36. Summary
PLTL/ESP is an effective (and fun!) way to generate interest in Computer Science
A PLTL program requires effort and commitment but will be rewarding to both you and your students
We are happy to help!

37. Links Peer-led Team Learning in CS Columbia Emerging Scholars Program
Columbia Emerging Scholars Program
National Center for Women & IT