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WG4 - A Multi-perspective Digital Library to Facilitate Integrating Teaching Research Methods Across the Computing Curriculum

For the past two years, SIGCSE has sponsored a design research project on teaching research methods in computing. The initial phase of the work included an ITiCSE 2006 working group that gathered a great deal of literature on and about research and research methods in computing. During the design process, we discovered a number of similar current and prior efforts, some concerning computing as a whole, others concerning particular sub-disciplines. Some efforts seem to have been fairly well received and that work has been built on by others, but still fails to give us the common ground necessary to have meaningful dialog on curricular issues.

We plan to construct a sense-making multi-perspective digital library (CRM-MPDL) on teaching research methods in computing. CRM-MPDL will be multi-perspective in that it allows for multiple forms of dialog about the research including conversations with the researchers on the impact of their work where possible. Sense-making tools such as D3E show how different papers, theories and methods within a specific area of research are connected, and in doing so provide a map of that research area. Building CRM-MPDL will help us understand what has been done on teaching research methods in computing, why it was done, what theories were borne out of it and what other research it inspired, within individual computing sub-disciplines and across computing as a whole, and provide the basis for a focused, coherent discussion on design of curricular materials in the next phase.

ITiCSE 2007 Working Group 4 will focus on the faculty perspectives in CRM-MPDL, especially the curricular materials view. Prior to the conference, WG4 members will gather background information regarding integrating teaching research methods in computing, with a particular emphasis on success stories. WG4 members will also continue gathering materials for CRM-MPDL and community building. At ITiCSE 07, WG4 will focus on design elements associated with the faculty perspectives identified by a prototype study currently under way. WG4 will compile its report as it goes, from the integration success stories and CRM-MPDL design elements. At ITiCSE 07, WG4 will present a mature draft of its report, which it will then submit for publication to SIGCSE Bulletin.

Participants with experience in integrating teaching research methods in computing, e.g., explicitly teaching computing as an empirical science, and/or in the design and construction of sense-making multi-perspective digital libraries are encouraged to apply to WG4.



For information, please see the working group web page at http://acc.csueastbay.edu/~csrm/kwiki/index.cgi?ITiCSE07csrmWG

WG4 Leaders

Hilary Holz (California State University, East Bay)
Anne Applin (Ithaca College)

WG4 Members

  • Kate Deibel
  • Rebecca Grasser
  • William Joel
  • Gwendolyne Kelly
  • Briony Oates
  • Ifi Okoye
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