NCWIT Launches an Online Tool, Developed with Google, for Diversifying Computing Degree Recipients
Boulder, Colorado (PRWEB) November 10, 2014 -- The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) today announced the launch of EngageCSEdu (http://www.engage-csedu.org), supported by Google. EngageCSEdu encourages the development of more inclusive learning environments in introductory CS courses by helping faculty to easily share their most effective retention practices.
EngageCSEdu offers thousands of projects, homework assignments, and other course materials that are searchable by computer science knowledge area, programming language, and more. All course materials are developed by faculty members nationwide and evaluated for quality by an interdisciplinary team of computer scientists, learning scientists, and diversity experts.
"EngageCSEdu takes the guesswork out of finding best practices for ensuring introductory CS students receive an engaging education,” said NCWIT CEO and Co-founder Lucy Sanders. “Thanks to Google’s generous support, we’re offering a platform for educators to exchange peer-reviewed materials that encourage CS students to persist in the major, leading to a more diverse workforce to create products and services more representative of a broad U.S. population."
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 1.2 million computing-related job openings by the year 2022. However, at current college graduation rates in computing, only 39% of these jobs can be filled by U.S. computing undergraduates. (http://www.ncwit.org/scorecard)
“NCWIT and Google recognize EngageCSEdu as a viable way to help a broader set of students complete their computer science degrees," said Google Director of Education and University Relations Maggie Johnson.
For every new submission by a faculty member to EngageCSEdu, Google will donate $50 (up to $100,000) towards maintaining NCWIT’s online tool.
About NCWIT
The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is a non-profit community of more than 575 universities, companies, non-profits, and government organizations nationwide working to increase women’s participation in computing and technology. NCWIT equips change leaders with resources for taking action in recruiting, retaining, and advancing women from K–12 and higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers. Find out more at http://www.ncwit.org.
NCWIT receives significant financial support from Strategic Partners NSF (the National Science Foundation), Microsoft, Bank of America, Google, and Intel, as well as from Investment Partners Avaya, Pfizer, Merck, Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc., AT&T, Bloomberg, and Hewlett-Packard.
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Adriane Bradberry, NCWIT, http://www.ncwit.org, +1 (303) 492-5213, [email protected]
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