Computer-related Careers Research Articles

Analysis of Factors Associated to the Enrollment and Demand of Computing-Related Careers

Despite the great need for computer-related career professionals, some universities that offer specialties to develop professionals with knowledge to cover the mention need, present a decrease in enrollment, which can cause a wide variety of problems. That is why in this paper we set out to investigate what the main factors that directly or indirectly affect student enrollment in computer-related careers are, to establish a literature-based starting point, and to help select the best possible strategy to improve enrollment. To reach this goal, we did a documentary research, categorizing each one of the factors with its respective analysis. In the results, we explain several challenges that educators face, due to the evolution of society needs, two of them are: teaching-learning models and technology; besides, it became evident that the relevance of this academic programs remain available since there is a high demand for these professionals in Mexico, as well as in the world; finally, we showed some intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors that have an essential relevance at the time that a student chooses the career to study. On the other hand, we reflected that the perception of everything that involves the study of a Computing-related career is a factor to be considered in the selection of an educational program of higher education. This study could be a reference for universities that are facing decreasing enrollment concerns. In conclusion, we analyzed and identified the main factors that have an impact on the demand for a career related to engineering, providing possible lines of action for increasing school enrollment.

The Importance Of Technology Usage In The Classroom, Does Gender Gaps Exist

The Importance Of Technology Usage In The Classroom, Does Gender Gaps Exist

Internet access as a structural factor in career choice: a comparison between computing and non-computing major students

The career choice model of Adya and Kaiser posits the availability of technology resources as a structural element impacting on career choice. The model distinguishes between accessibility at school and at home. Based on this theoretical point of departure and by arguing a link between choice of major and choice of field of career, this paper explores specifically the influence of the access of internet at school and at home on perceptions and values pertaining to the career South African students are preparing for. This exploratory study investigates whether any differences can be found between students who selected computing majors at tertiary level and students who selected non-computing majors. Internet availability in South Africa is potentially interesting, as it constitutes not simply an ‘available technology’, but may be an indicator of aspects such as technology skills, information resources, educational quality and socio-economic conditions.A quantitative study was conducted with 1741 students as participants from three different departments in the School of IT at a university in South Africa. Students participated in a survey early in the academic year.The findings show that lack of internet access homogenises students' career perceptions across the groups of majors. However, where students have internet access the views on career choices differ considerably between computing-majors and non-computing majors particularly in terms of views on the nature of work opportunities and of personal qualities of IT people. Also, a pronounced difference emerges in the perceptions of non-computing majors with and without internet access centering around views about the importance of sources of career information and around self-efficacy in the chosen career. Most importantly, the computing majors group is fairly homogeneous in terms of their perceptions regarding computer-related careers regardless of internet access.Since similarities shared by these students evidently cannot be ascribed to internet access or even to the socio-economic and educational factors that make internet access possible, this research indicates that the influence of the internet on perceptions of career and consequently on career choice is complex with more diverse linkages to psychosocial factors than posited by the model of Adya and Kaiser.

Computer attitudes of primary and secondary students in South Africa

This study investigated computer attitudes of 240 students from eight primary and secondary schools in South Africa. The student population of six of the eight schools that participated in the study can be characterised as middle or upper class. Two schools were from South African townships. All eight schools used computers for educational purposes, although the availability and use of the computers differed. The research question of the study was whether differences in computer attitude could be found between boys and girls, and to what extent these differences could be explained by student, school, and environment characteristics. In contrast to most studies on gender differences and computer attitudes, no gender differences in computer attitudes were found. However, this study showed differences in computer attitudes between students from the upper/middle class schools and students from the township schools. The latter showed a less positive attitude towards computers, but more interest in computer-related careers compared with the students in the upper/middle class schools. The study found that computer access and experience, which was significantly lower in the township schools, was also related to computer attitude.

Characterizations of computing careers: Students and professionals disagree

Girls are generally under-represented in secondary and tertiary level computing courses. Seeking reasons for these gender differences in enrollments, data were collected from open-ended interviews with three different samples of participants: (1) 34 male and 34 female students enrolled in the second or third year of a university computer science course; (2) 33 secondary school girls aged 13–17 years, drawn from four different schools; and (3) 19 women working professionally in a computer-based career. Both the secondary and tertiary students held stereotyped views of computing and computer-related careers which differed markedly from the perceptions of the professional women. Important aspects of these careers were identified by the professional women. The question remains as to the numbers of students who make a poor career choice based on inaccurate perceptions of both computing and non-computing careers.

Marketing the information systems profession

Student interest in computer-related careers has declined dramatically in recent years, resulting in a shortage of entry-level personnel pursuing careers in information management. In an effort to attract students to the profession, the Boston Chapter of the Society for Information Management (Boston-SIM) has developed a prototype videotape targeted at high school students. The tape has been shown at several high schools in the greater Boston area and its effectiveness measured through a questionnaire administered before and after viewing. The tape has been found to be reasonably effective in familiarizing students with the information management profession.

The Implications of Declining Enrollments in Undergraduate CIS Programs in the United States

A shortage of qualified entry-level computer information systems (CIS) personnel is beginning to occur as a result of the recent decline in student interest in computer-related careers. This paper discusses the impending shortage, its implications, and actions that can be taken to reverse this development.

Student Perceptions of Information Systems Careers

AbstractCollege student interest in computer-related careers has declined precipitously in recent years. One possible explanation for this decline is that students hold either wrong or confused perceptions of the workstyle and conditions associated with such careers. A study of freshman business majors and information systems faculty was conducted to determine the perceptions which the two groups hold on the workstyle of an information systems graduate. Their perceptions were analyzed both within group and across groups. The study showed that the student group holds a substantially flawed picture of an information systems career, but that there is also substantial disagreement about the nature of such careers among faculty members. The results suggest the need for a more aggressive educational strategy to market the information systems career, and the need on the part of faculty to present alternative approaches to such a career.

Modifying freshman perception of the CIS graduate's workstyle

Student interest in computer-related careers has declined dramatically in recent years. One possible explanation for this decline is incorrect perceptions of the workstyle associated with the positions held by CIS graduates. A study of freshman business majors was conducted which: (1) examined whether an introductory computing course changed those perceptions, and (2) compared those perceptions to their own expected starting positions. The study showed that: (1) the introductory computing course had a negligible effect on changing student perceptions of the nature of the CIS graduate's initial job, and (2) compared to their perceptions of CIS jobs, they expected their own jobs to involve substantially more human interaction and less direct involvement in the implementation of computer technology. The results suggest a need for: (1) a more proactive strategy to market the MIS career both inside and outside the classroom, and (2) some creative approaches for the placement and content of programming activities in both the major and the career.

Humpty dumpty, private languages and logic programmers

women already established in AI today were attracted to the subject before computers acquired their macho image. At least they had not been put off using computers whilst at school. It is too early to say whether this scenario is actually the case. What we can say is that the image of computing has reached a very low ebb amongst girl school-leavers and that this will without a doubt have a knock-on effect on the number of people choosing computing or computer-related careers. This must have an effect on the AI community if only in the fact that the pool of possible researchers will be smaller. At worst, it will starve AI research of the particular skills that women can offer. There are a number of publicity and research initiatives beginning to emerge this year in order to find both short-term and long-term solutions to the problem. These will involve finding reasons why girls are dissuaded from careers in computing, and finding ways to attract them to the subject. Ironically, one way might be to increase pupils' awareness of AI and AI techniques because this is one of the aspects of computing that is most likely to appeal to girls.

A sample survey of attitudes to computer studies

There is a general concern at present that curricular and technological change affecting the education and career aspirations of school pupils is not being fully exploited by girls. Whilst there are many reasons which can be offered to explain this trend most arise from subjective analysis or are extrapolated from surveys conducted into the factors affecting the uptake of science subjects. Much research which has considered attitudes to and the uptake of computer studies/information technology in schools has tended to be based on relatively small or isolated pupil populations but in this present study the attitudes of 1500 sixth-form boys and girls have been explored using standard questionnaire techniques. The pupil population was selected to cover a range of school types, pupil social class, ability, religion and sex as the dominant label. The survey questions were framed to explore attitudes to computing and computers, aspirations towards computer-related careers and attitudes to activities such as programming and games playing. Statistical tests have been applied to the results in order to identify overall trends and to assess the significance of boy-girl agreement and disagreement on various aspects.