ITR: Research, Curriculum and Partnerships for Broadening the Information Technology Pipeline

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

EIA-0082915 Schnabel, Robert University of Colorado ITR: Research, Curriculum and Partnerships for Broadening the Information Technology Pipeline This project supports a collaboration to explore a new multimedia paradigm for educating students for careers and lives in the networked information age. Through research and course delivery, this collaboration will explore new curricula that allow students from a wide variety of disciplines to obtain the understanding and skills that prepare them to be a part of the modern information technology workforce. The project will broaden the information technology pipeline in two critical ways: by increasing the diversity of academic disciplines and aptitudes from which students can enter the information technology workforce, and by applying this approach to a racially diverse population. The project will develop a multidisciplinary curriculum and research in technology, arts, and media (TAM). The research associated with the development and evaluation of the TAM curriculum has four components: 1) computer and cognitive science research addressing approaches to using information technology in education that will help determine both the content and the delivery of the curriculum. 2) social science research about the impacts of the networked information age upon our society that is linked to a key portion of the curriculum, 3) education research about the use of information technology in K-12 education that will impact the education course offerings of the TAM curriculum, and 4) formative and summative evaluations of the TAM curriculum in achieving its goals.