Special Projects 2018

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Since 2003 SIGCSE has awarded a limited number of Special Projects Grants each year. These grants help SIGCSE members investigate and introduce new ideas in the learning and teaching of computing. Projects must provide some clear benefit to the wider disciplinary community in the form of new knowledge, developing or sharing of a resource, or good practice in learning, teaching, or assessment.

Here is a list of the awards given in 2018.

CS Identity Development Interview Project

Amanpreet Kapoor, University of Florida <kapooramanpreet@ufl.edu>
Christina Gardner-McCune, University of Florida
Award: $3,078
Award date: June 2018

Description: This project focuses on the development of professional identity in computer science students. Drs. Kapoor and Gardner-McCune will identify ways in which computer science students engage in communities of practice and will measure the amount of time students spend in professional experiences outside the classroom. The impact of these experiences on the development of professional identity will be explored through a qualitative study. The results of the study will include profiles of successful students and recommendations for faculty.

Report: Final Report

Code Control: Developing a Serious Game to Reinforce Introductory Programming Concepts

Devorah Kletenik, Brooklyn College, City University of New York <kletenik@sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu>
Deborah Sturm, College of Staten Island, City University of New York <deborah.sturm@csi.cuny.edu>
Award: $5,000
Award date: June 2018

Description: Drs. Kletenik and Sturm will create a game to introduce programming concepts to undergraduate students. The game will include a storyline, sound effects, graphics, power-ups and short quiz-like challenges. It will provide students with an opportunity to practice their programming skills. The game is intended for a broad audience; gamers and non-gamers, females and underrepresented groups will be consulted during the creation of the game. In addition, a wide-scale evaluation of the effectiveness of the game will be performed. The game will be available as a WebGL and will be playable in a browser without downloading or installation. It will be released under a Free Software license, enabling others to modify the game if so desired.

Report: Interim Report
Report: Final Report

Developing and Testing Activities Introducing Elementary School Students to Artificial Intelligence

David Touretzky, Carnegie Mellon University <dst@cs.cmu.edu>
Award: $4,440
Award date: June 2018

Description: Dr. Touretzky will develop hands-on activities designed to introduce elementary school children to artificial intelligence concepts. Activities will include topics such as computer vision, face and voice recognition, speech generation, navigation and robotics. The project will include twice-weekly instruction for over 300 elementary school children during academic year 2018-2019. Learning outcomes and student interest in AI will be measured. In addition, PowerPoint slides and supplementary materials will be developed for the classroom teachers. Materials will be cataloged in a resource directory supported by the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA).

Interactive resources for training CS TAs

Colleen Lewis, Harvey Mudd College, USA
Phillip Conrad, University of California, USA
Award: $5,000
Award date: November 2018

Description: A card game to help CS faculty create inclusive classrooms. Extension of existing game. A novel idea.

The CS-Ed Podcast

Kristin Stephens-Martinez, Duke University, USA
Award: $5,000
Award date: November 2018

Description: 6 podcasts of best practices in computing education.

Report: Final Report

Software History Examples

Kim Tracy, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, USA
Award: $5,000
Award date: November 2018

Description: Collection and development of important historical software examples to teach the history of software. Novel and interesting from historical perspective.

Report: Final Report

Active Learning Materials for Machine Learning

Olga Glebova, Georgia State University, USA
Pavel Skums, Georgia State University, USA
Award: $5,000
Award date: November 2018

Description: The applicants will develop, test and refine 12 sets of active learning materials for Machine Learning (ML) course suited for undergraduate students majoring in Computer Science (CS). Activities will follow POGIL (Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) methodology.

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