How can we reach the non-CS major?

Abstract

As the state of current technologies continue to change along with the demographics our students the challenge of reaching the non-CS major continues to be a compelling issue among college-level educators. As we strive to serve the needs of this population while also perhaps drawing some of the more interested students to the major, we must address certain questions: • What topics, across the range of the computing discipline, does the non-major need to study? • What are the most effective methods for introducing these topics to the class? • Should we incorporate some of the latest gadgets such as tablet computers, or simple robots? • To what extent should programming be discussed, especially the emerging field of parallel programming? • Might there be extra-curricular activities that would prove beneficial to the non-major? The panel will consist of a group of college professors ranging in specialty from electrical engineering to CS and IT education. The panel's participants come from colleges in rural two-year schools and universities located in metropolitan areas. The panel will conduct the presentation as a participatory one. The audience participation will allow new brainstorming ideas to be considered with ideas for future research.