Computer Science is a complex field, and even experts do not always agree how the field should be defined. Though a moderate amount is known about how precollege students think about the field of CS, less is known about how CS majors' conceptions of the field develop during the undergraduate curriculum. Given the difficulty of understanding CS, how do students make educational decisions like what electives or specializations to pursue? This work presents a theory of student conceptions of CS, based on 37 interviews with students and student advisers and analyzed with a grounded theory approach. Students tend to have one of three main views about CS: CS as an academic discipline focused on the mathematical study of algorithms, CS as mostly about programming but also incorporating supporting subfields, and CS as a broad discipline with many different (programming and non-programming) subfields. I have also developed and piloted a survey instrument to determine how prevalent each kind of conception is in the undergraduate population. I also present a theory of student educational decisions in CS. Students do not usually have specific educational goals in CS and instead take an exploratory approach to their classes. Particularly enjoyable or unenjoyable classes cause them to narrow their educational focus. As a result, students do not reason very deeply about the CS content of their classes when they make educational decisions. This work makes three main contributions: the theory of student conceptions, the theory of student educational decisions, and the preliminary survey instrument for evaluating student conceptions. This work has applications in CS curriculum design as well as for future research in the CS education community.

Job vacancies in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields are expected to rise to 2.5 million between 2004 and 2014 (BLS, 2005). To help fill this need, STEM professionals were podcasted to middle school students, exposing them to the potential job opportunities which exist, and possibly increasing their interest in STEM careers. To investigate whether STEM professional podcasts to middle school students increased their interest in STEM careers, a quasi-experimental pretest/midtest/posttest control group design was analyzed with ANCOVA to determine differences in interest between those students who viewed the podcasts and those who did not. Grade level and gender were also studied to determine differences in interest in pursuing a STEM career. The findings were that the podcast group had significantly higher midtest and posttest scores compared to the control group, when the pretest was the covariate. Posttest scores were not significant between the two treatment groups when midtest scores were used as the covariate. Findings for gender suggested that there is no difference in males and females for interest in pursuing a STEM career when treatment group and grade level were controlled. Grade level comparisons between the two treatment groups found no significant difference in grade level for interest in pursuing a STEM career, when group and gender were controlled. The incorporation of STEM professional podcasts into the classroom could stimulate class discussions on current issues in science, potential careers in STEM and preparatory subjects needed for a particular career which may lead future STEM career pursuits. / Access to thesis and accompanying PDF permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Biology

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Educational Guidance and Counseling))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

This thesis documents an action research project that was carried out within the Department of Computing Sciences at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), South Africa, from January 2010 to December 2011. The overall aim of the research was to foster an environment in which academics could explore ways to teach using an integrative approach to education. Previous research within the department had raised the concern that students were graduating without the type of high-level cognitive skills that were required in the workplace. While the students’ technical skills were perceived as being excellent, employers indicated that students would benefit from opportunities to develop or improve skills such as communication, teamwork, innovative thinking and time management. These skills include high-level cognitive skills, and are often referred to as “soft skills”. The academics participating in the research project came to believe that it was essential to develop teaching methods that would provide opportunities for students to develop these soft skills, in conjunction with the content and technical knowledge currently addressed in their courses. The research project followed the living theory approach to action research. A living theory action research project allows the researcher to investigate her own teaching, and develop a theory of practice. The theory of practice can be applied to the issues under investigation, to improve the situation or solve problems. At the same time, the theory of practice can contribute to the body of knowledge within the academic domain of the research. Action research is an iterative, cyclical process. There were four research cycles, each one semester in length, during the two years of the project. The project will continue, with a fifth research cycle, starting in January 2012. By the end of the fourth research cycle—Semester Two, 2011—there were eleven academics actively participating in the research group. The project had extended its influence to include academics from the Department of Mathematics at NMMU. The academics ranged from senior, long-serving professors to junior lecturing staff. The results of the research, or the researcher-practitioner’s living theory, explain the process by which an effective and enthusiastic community of practice, dedicated to improving the academics’ teaching and learning practice, was developed. The living theory is applicable to academics within a scientific discipline, desiring to explore and improve their education practice. My living theory explains the characteristics of the TLC (The Learning Community) space, and the action strategies for creating such a space. The explanation of the process of this project includes an analysis of the development process of the research group, typical characteristics of the environment or “space” of the group, and action strategies that other academics could use to create a similar community of practice.

Virtually all government and industry information and control systems rely upon computer professionals for systems development and maintenance. With the national workforce growing at only one percent annually and enrollments in computer and information sciences college programs declining, the need exists to obtain a continued contribution of good work from our existing workforce. A multiple-phase, multiple-case study research project was performed to develop an understanding of how technical currency is maintained, not as a discrete phenomenon, but within the setting of the work environment, considering project experiences, organizational relationships, professional preparation and continuing professional education, and individual motivation. Previous research indicated that project experiences contributed to, or provided a vehicle for, maintaining technical currency. Maintaining technical currency was found to require a continuous process involving organizational relationships, the individual's perceived value in the organization, constant assessments and evaluations of current and desired project involvement or position attainment, repeated and varied learning episodes, and actual project experiences. Individuals were motivated to take specific actions, such as participating in training courses, when such action was expected to yield a benefit. Project experiences alone were not sufficient to maintain technical currency, although they were an essential element. While formal education in preparation for a career was critical, formal courses did not contribute as significantly as other forms of continuing professional education to maintaining technical currency. A Technical Currency Model was generated that explains how individuals expend energy in one or more of five focus areas depending on their motivation at the time: (a) technical qualification for a project or position; (b) political qualification for a project or position; (c) performing on a project or in a position; (d) determining that change is appropriate; and (e) seeking the next project or position. / Ph. D.

The implementation of a learning environment for young African American males, called the Glitch Game Testers, was launched in 2009. The development of this program was based on formative work that looked at the contrasting use of digital games between young African American males and individuals who chose to become computer science majors. Through analysis of cultural values and digital game play practices, the program was designed to intertwine authentic game development practices and computer science learning. The resulting program employed 25 African American male high school students to test pre-release digital games full-time in the summer and part-time in the school year, with an hour of each day dedicated to learning introductory computer science. Outcomes for persisting in computer science education are remarkable; of the 16 participants who had graduated from high school as of 2012, 12 have gone on to school in computing-related majors. These outcomes, and the participants' enthusiasm for engaging in computing, are in sharp contrast to the crisis in African American male education and learning motivation. The research presented in this dissertation discusses the formative research that shaped the design of Glitch, the evaluation of the implementation of Glitch, and a theoretical investigation of the way in which participants navigated conflicting motivations in learning environments.

The human resource is constantly cited as an organisation's greatest asset. In a rapidly changing technological environment this is most applicable to the Information Technology (IT) function. Organisations are experiencing IT human resource problems such as low satisfaction, early plateauing, high turnover, burnout, limited advancement potential, nominal corporate commitment, supervisory aversion, poor organisational culture, and exceptional compensation. These problems are directly related to the IT professional's career. There is a lack of information and awareness surrounding IT careers to deal effectively with these problems. The research aims to create increased awareness of IT careers and the inherent problems through the development of a career management model. The research aims to identify the factors that influence IT careers, provide career management with a means to measure compatibility of the factors, and suggest solutions to incompatibility. The solving of this problem will be of mutual benefit to both organisations and individuals as they seek to better manage IT careers. After reviewing research literature relating to career anchors, IT job types, IT skills portfolios, and career dynamics a model for Effective IT Career Management (EITCM) has been constructed. The model represents the dynamic interactions between individual, organisational, and dependent factors. The model examines the compatibility of these interacting factors by measuring the levels of relevant career variables. The model suggests appropriate career management techniques to increase the compatibility of the interacting factors. An empirical study was designed and launched online to provide data that would confirm the seven Critical Success Factors (CSF) relating to the proposed model. The responses from the members of the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) allowed the seven hypotheses derived from the CSFs to be tested. The results of the empirical study were positive but required modification to five of the CSFs before they could be confirmed. The EITCM model was modified to reflect the improved CSFs. An awareness of career influencing factors combined with active career management is advantageous to both IT professionals and their organisations.

The growing interest in gender issues and female employment has generated a number of studies and the library and information profession has not been excluded from this interest in promoting female equity in employment. This study investigates the career patterns of female librarians in six public university libraries in Ghana in order to establish the enhancers and inhibitors they experience in their career progression. The study adopted the multi-method approach, which entailed the use of two self-administered questionnaires for 128 professional and paraprofessional library staff respectively, which formed one group of the population studied and a semi-structured interview schedule developed for three female University library Heads, who formed the second group of the study population to address research questions in this study. Each of the professional and paraprofessional librarians completed the questionnaire on their own and their responses were then used to form essential components of one research project. Quantitative data gathered was analysed to report on descriptive characteristics of respondents, while qualitative data, from open ended questions, in the questionnaires, and responses from interviews with the female University Library Heads were analysed using the narrative analysis technique to present profile of respondents and their career histories. The findings reveal females in the study were unable to meet requirements for promotion in their various public university libraries, which has resulted in very slow progress in their careers and even in some cases stagnated careers. The few successful female librarians who made it to top positions did so relatively late in their careers. The study established that societal expectations of females, age, family responsibilities-career conflict, failure to publish, not being able to pursue higher academic programmes, inability to participate in professional enhancement and professional activities are some inhibitors to the progress of female librarians. The study concludes by recommending that the pioneer female University Librarians should serve as role models and mentors to colleague female librarians, and that there should be career development support, for females, from the Ghana Library Association and African Library and Information Association to help overcome barriers to advancement in university libraries. / Information Science / D.Litt. et. Phil (Information Science) / 020.82

The growing interest in gender issues and female employment has generated a number of studies and the library and information profession has not been excluded from this interest in promoting female equity in employment. This study investigates the career patterns of female librarians in six public university libraries in Ghana in order to establish the enhancers and inhibitors they experience in their career progression. The study adopted the multi-method approach, which entailed the use of two self-administered questionnaires for 128 professional and paraprofessional library staff respectively, which formed one group of the population studied and a semi-structured interview schedule developed for three female University library Heads, who formed the second group of the study population to address research questions in this study. Each of the professional and paraprofessional librarians completed the questionnaire on their own and their responses were then used to form essential components of one research project. Quantitative data gathered was analysed to report on descriptive characteristics of respondents, while qualitative data, from open ended questions, in the questionnaires, and responses from interviews with the female University Library Heads were analysed using the narrative analysis technique to present profile of respondents and their career histories. The findings reveal females in the study were unable to meet requirements for promotion in their various public university libraries, which has resulted in very slow progress in their careers and even in some cases stagnated careers. The few successful female librarians who made it to top positions did so relatively late in their careers. The study established that societal expectations of females, age, family responsibilities-career conflict, failure to publish, not being able to pursue higher academic programmes, inability to participate in professional enhancement and professional activities are some inhibitors to the progress of female librarians. The study concludes by recommending that the pioneer female University Librarians should serve as role models and mentors to colleague female librarians, and that there should be career development support, for females, from the Ghana Library Association and African Library and Information Association to help overcome barriers to advancement in university libraries. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: While the importance of science and technology for society has long been recognised, it has taken on ever increasing importance in the present century. As a result this study, government (The year of Science and Technology - 1998), and other initiatives by concerned bodies efforts are directed to better inform the public about the nature and role of science and technology. It aimed to make citizens both better informed and better able to adapt to the many changes that science and technology have brought, and will continue to bring, to their lives. Despite these efforts many citizens remain ill informed about the scientific advances, and how technology affects their lives. As a result, most members of the public are unable to form substantiated judgements about matters involving science and technology. It is essential that ways are find to improve the public understands of science and technology. This study discusses the results of an empirical survey which was conducted in a coloured community in Paarl. The thesis summarises the results of the survey on these issues. It presents data on the public's understanding of science and technology and lists efforts that have been made to improve the understanding of science and technology. The study describes efforts to make information on science and technology more readily available to the public. Finally, it proposed measures that various actors might usefully take to improve public understanding of science and technology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die belangrikheid van wetenskap en tegnologie vir die samelewing word reeds 'n geruime tyd erken, en het veraloor die laaste eeu toegeneem. Hieruit spruit die poging van hierdie studie, die regering (die Jaar van Wetenskap en Tegnologie 1998), en ander inisiatiewe deur belanghebbende organisasies om die algemene publiek in te lig rakende die rol van wetenskap en tegnologie. Dit poog om die algemene publiek in te lig oor, en in staat te stelom aan te pas by die veranderinge wat wetenskap en tegnologie reeds meegebring het, en nog sal meebring in hulle daaglikse lewe. Ten spyte van hierdie pogings is verskeie lede van die publiek steeds oningelig rakende wetenskaplike veranderinge en die wyses waarop tegnologie hulle lewens beïnvloed. Gevolglik is 'n groot gedeelte van die algemene publiek nie in staat om ingeligte oordele te kan maak met betrekking tot wetenskap- en tegnologieverwante aangeleenthede nie. Dit is dus essensieel dat maniere gevind word om die algemene publiek se persepsie van wetenskap en tegnologie te verbeter. Hierdie studie bespreek die resultate van 'n empiriese opname wat onder 'n bruin gemeenskap in Paarlonderneem is. Dit bevat resultate oor die algemene publiek se persepsies van wetenskap en tegnologie, en gee 'n aanduiding van die pogings wat aangewend is om hierdie persepsie te verbeter. Die studie beskryf ook die pogings wat aangewend is om inligting rakende wetenskap en tegnologie meer beskikbaar te maak vir die algemene publiek. Ten slotte, word maniere voorgestel waarop die verskeie rolspelers strategiee geimplementeer kan word vir die uitbouing van die algemene publiek se persepsie van wetenskap en tegnologie.