Prospective Students' Reactions to the Presentation of the Computer Science Major

Autor/in	Weaver, Daniel Scott
Titel	Prospective Students' Reactions to the Presentation of the Computer Science Major
Quelle	(2010), (507 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit D.P.S. Dissertation, Pace University
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-1245-1044-6
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; College Students; Student Attitudes; Opinions; Student Interests; Computer Science; Employment Opportunities; Science Curriculum; Computer Science Education; Majors (Students); High School Students; College Bound Students; Web Sites; Institutional Advancement; College Programs; Occupational Information; Career Information Systems; Relevance (Education); Curriculum Evaluation; Vocational Interests; Interest Inventories; Interest Research; Career Choice + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Collegestudent; Schülerverhalten; Lehrmeinung; Studieninteresse; Informatik; Berufschance; Beschäftigungschance; Computer science lessons; Informatikunterricht; High school; High schools; Student; Students; Oberschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Web-Design; nicht übertragen; Studienprogramm; Berufsinformation; Berufsbildungsinformationssystem; Relevance; Relevanz; Curriculum; Evaluation; Curriculumevaluation; Lehrplan; Rahmenplan; Evaluierung; Berufsinteresse; Interest profile; Interessenprofil; Interessenforschung
Abstract	The number of students enrolling in Computer Science in colleges and Universities has declined since its peak in the early 2000s. Some claim contributing factors that intimate that prospective students fear the lack of employment opportunities if they study computing in college. However, the lack of understanding of what Computer Science is and what it involves might be a more compelling reason for the decline. This dissertation investigates the attitudes and perceptions of prospective students toward studying Computer Science and the presentation of the Computer Science major on college and university websites. The study employs four research stages that examine different aspects of this question that culminate in high school students providing their opinions of different representations of the Computer Science curriculum. The first stage evaluates college and university presentations of the Computer Science curriculum available on the web develops a Typical Curriculum. The second evaluates how businesses promote computer related job opportunities and develops an alternative presentation of the curriculum based on the findings. The third elicits perceptions, opinions, and ideas from prospective students and college students on how to develop a more exciting presentation of the curriculum. The final stage utilizes the curricula developed in the prior stages of this study in surveys designed to eliciting prospective students' reactions to the different curricula. The results indicate that typical Computer Science curricula do not interest prospective students. The curriculum developed through the input of prospective and college students, however, was more favorably received and seemed to increase student interest in pursuing the study of Computer Science. Prospective students provided insight into their perceptions of the Computer Science curriculum. This insight is valuable to colleges and universities that desire to present their curriculum in a manner that is exciting and motivating to prospective students. This study informs colleges and universities of the characteristics of a curricular presentation that excite and motive prospective students to pursue studying Computer Science. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10