Interdisciplinary ComputingInterdisciplinary Computing

Raising the Bar for Computing Education

PProgram in

IInterdisciplinary

CComputingFlorida State UniversityFlorida State University

PProgram in

IInterdisciplinary

CComputing

Creating the foundation for the next generation of university-wide computing education

KnowledgeKnowledgeTechnology+

KnowledgeKnowledgeTechnology+

Technology in CollegeTechnology in CollegeTraditional Approach

Anthropology

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Philosophy

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Social Work

Engineering

EconomicsNutrition

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Technology in CollegeTechnology in College

Computer Literacy Circa 1996

Technology in CollegeTechnology in College

Computer Literacy Circa 2008

Technology in CollegeTechnology in College

Concepts

• Digital Technologies

• Network Technologies

• Business Information Systems

• Digital Media

• Information Security

Skills• Microsoft Office• File Management• Personal

Information Management

• Internet Communications

• Collaborative Tools• Web Development

& Technologies• Digital Graphics &

Photography

Computer Fluency in 2010Social Issues

• Digital Life

• Intellectual Property

• Privacy

• Freedom of Speech

• Globalization

• Ethics

Discipline-specificDiscipline-specific

Discipline-specific ComputingDiscipline-specific Computing

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Issues

• Waste & Redundancy– Similar computing classes

taught by multiple units

• Drain on Unit Resources– Faculty

– Technology Infrastructure and Software

• Shortage of Experts

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History

Philosophy

Business

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Discipline-specific ComputingDiscipline-specific Computing

Provided as service courses by CS

• Computing professionals are not familiar with computing problems from various disciplines.

• Non-computing students are not interested in learning computing for the sake of computing.

• Traditional teaching methods used to teach computing do not engage non-computing majors.

• By their nature, It is a challenge for any one discipline to offer interdisciplinary computing courses, and do them justice.

Discipline-specific ComputingDiscipline-specific Computing

Issues

PProgram in

IInterdisciplinary

CComputingFlorida State UniversityFlorida State University

PIC GoalPIC GoalAnthropology

History

PhilosophyBusinessVisual Arts

Social Work

EconomicsCriminology

Motion Picture

Communications

Discover common computing needs between disciplines and work with colleges and departments to develop courses to meet those needs.

PIC Vision To empower all FSU students to innovate and lead in their respective fields through computing and information technologies.

PIC Mission To fulfill the PIC vision by providing an infrastructure that develops, supports, and promotes a comprehensive range of application-oriented classes that capture and effectively deliver current and emerging computing and information technology needs and trends across disciplines.

PIC Organizational StructurePIC Organizational StructureSteering Committee•Arts & Sciences•Information•Human Sciences•Communication•Business•Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance

FacultyKen BaldaufKyle Gower-Winter

College of Arts & SciencesCollege of Information

Faculty & Teaching Assistants from a variety of disciplines

PIC Course ModelsPIC Course Models

• PIC-hosted Courses– Designed and delivered solely by PIC faculty

• Collaborative Courses– PIC faculty + other faculty from invested departments

• Department-hosted Courses– Taught without PIC faculty, promoted by PIC

• PIC Guest Lectures– Injecting technology modules in non-tech courses

PIC Collaborative CoursesPIC Collaborative Courses

Marketing

Blended lecture + discipline-specific recitations, projects, and exams

Studio ArtConsumerScience

Information

MarketingStudio ArtBusiness

Consumer Science

Lecture Recitation

PIC ApproachPIC Approach• Inclusive

• accommodating all types of students

• Goal-Oriented• Goal-oriented approach, using discipline-specific

problems provided by degree programs

• New Teaching Methods• Use of video lessons and online learning• Pair programming allows students to learn

together• Group projects using real-life scenarios

• Robust Student Support

PIC CoursesPIC Courses• Web Application Development

• Web Interface Design w/Java

• Web Site Design and Development

• Spreadsheet Techniques and Applications

• Data Management

• Geographic Info Systems

• Information Science

• Programming w/Visual Studio

• Digital Media

• Communications Technologies

• Scientific Computing

• Calculations using Matlab and Maple

• Game Programming

IDCIDCThis course prefix is designated to accommodate courses that teach interdisciplinary computing and information technologies across non-computing disciplines to provide students with the technical skills to make them competitive within their discipline.

– 000-099 intro/survey courses– 100-199 data/information management– 200-299 numerical analysis– 300-399 digital media– 400-499 Web Development– 500-599 Programming– 600-699 Information and Communication Technology– 700-799 Individual and Societal Implication

State of Florida Approved

PICPICSupports FSU’s Overarching Goals

• “Maximize the opportunity for interaction, offering effective and efficient curricula, and sharing of resources among programs/units with common and/or related learning objectives.”

• “Ensure educational programs prepare students to meet the demands and challenges of 21st century society.”

PIC Financial BenefitsPIC Financial Benefits

• Computing experts share knowledge across multiple disciplines

• Redundant course offerings are reduced

• Academic units can pool resources to invest in expensive hardware, software, and systems

FSU’s Information Commons – a $54 M computing facility for 2010

State of the PICState of the PIC

• Teaching two courses

• Guest Lecturing

• Designing three courses

• Preparing 20 courses for IDC course numbers

• Meeting bi-weekly with steering committee

• Evangelizing

PICPIC

Thank you!

Creating the foundation for the next generation of university-wide computing education