Introduction to computing

Nancy HowellThe University of Southern

MississippiMarch 23, 2009

• The University of Southern Mississippi– Hattiesburg, Mississippi

• Introduction to Computing– Annual Enrollment: 700 Students in 26 Sections

with up to 50 Students per Section• Traditional format: Face-to-Face Lecture or

Online• Goals

– Enhance Students’ Engagement– Minimize Course Drift– Keep Pace with Advances in Technology– Optimize Utilization of Teaching Resources– Anchor the Foundation for Lifelong Learning

• Status: Pilot

• Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Mississippi Course Redesign Initiative

• Partnered with NCAT• Program to Support Redesign Projects• Redesign Workshop in November 2007• Application to Continue

– February 2008 Workshop– Invitation to Submit Proposal in June 2008

• Timing• Face It: Enhance Students’ Engagement

• Building Support– Director, School of Computing– Administration

• IHL and University Commitment to Redesign– One of 6 IHL-Funded Redesign Projects @ Southern

Miss• Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast Campuses• Building Consensus with Faculty

– Engage the Students– Encourage Active Learning– Provide Students with Individualized Assistance

• Including Technical and Administrative Staff– Plan and Design Lab Space– Obtain Computer Systems for Lab

• Learning Management System: Blackboard– University-supported– Mail– Tracking– Assignments Due Each Week– Assessments with Automated Grading• Weekly Low-stakes Quizzes• Module Tests and Exam

– Grades• Content: Cengage Learning

– Textbooks: Computer Concepts and Microsoft Office

– PowerPoint Lecture Slides– Test Bank of Questions for Quizzes/Tests

• Traditional: 13 Different Instructors Teaching a Total of 26 Sections– 4 Professors– 2 Instructors– 4 Graduate Teaching Assistants– 3 Adjunct

• Planned Redesign: – 2 Professors– 1 Instructor (Course Coordinator)– 3 Graduate Teaching Assistants

• Redesign Pilot– 1 Professor– 1 Instructor (Course Coordinator)– 1 Graduate Teaching Assistant– 2 Undergraduate Teaching Assistants• Peer Tutors/Lab Monitors/Graders

• Full Implementation– 2 Professors– 1 Instructor (Course Coordinator)– 1 Graduate Teaching Assistant– 2 Undergraduate Teaching Assistants• Peer Tutors/Lab Monitors/Graders