Kay Robbins, professor of computer science (in blue vest at left), with students
Research Close-up: Kay Robbins bridges the curriculum gap
(June 5, 2002)--Kay Robbins, professor of computer science, is principal investigator for the project "Changing the Paradigm: Preparing Students for the Computing Profession in the 21st Century," funded by NASA. Cathy Key, senior lecturer in computer science, is co-director of the project.
Rapid advances in technology are forcing a corresponding continuous, significant change in curriculum at the secondary and university levels. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the discipline of computer science. Computer science programs across the country have had to make a transition to object-oriented and Web-based software development in their beginning courses, using complex new technology. These technologies are more difficult to learn and place additional demands on the students, faculty and facilities.
At UTSA, the NASA-funded "Changing the Paradigm" effort provides funds to develop a hands-on curriculum that integrates formal lectures in computer classrooms, student demonstration laboratories, case studies and projects to help students learn cutting-edge approaches to programming.
The grant also supports an extensive peer-tutoring network, where successful students from previous semesters are hired to tutor and provide technical support for students taking the courses in subsequent semesters. Undergraduate tutors also guide students through formal laboratory demonstrations. Currently, 11 undergraduate students are participating as tutor-presenters. These students meet regularly with course instructors to discuss upcoming curriculum and other issues.
Technology shifts have also forced changes in high school curricula, particularly in the advanced placement college courses offered at the high-school level. For the past two summers, graduate courses were offered to the high school teachers covering the new advanced placement curriculum in computer science. More than two dozen teachers representing six school districts and 13 different high schools took the courses, which were funded by the NASA grant with co-sponsorship from the San Antonio Urban Systemic Initiative.
The success of this project has led to national recognition and other educational
networks considering adopting similar systems to strengthen their computer
science departments. Principal investigator Kay Robbins and co-director Cathy
Key will continue their work on this project during the coming year.
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Research Close-up: Kay Robbins bridges the curriculum gap
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002