Computer Science Career Panel Seminars

Deb Pontier, Math/Computer Science Teacher

• $2,500 — Fund logistics for students and staff to participate in a seminar designed to increase awareness of college and business expectations and opportunities in the computer science field. (Funds provide bus transportation to Indian Creek Tech Center, morning/afternoon break refreshments and lunch for 250 student and staff participants, as well as substitute teachers, seminar materials and postage.)
• Impact approximately 250 students grades 9-12, and provide professional development for five teachers.
• Teachers, students, educational institutions, and businesses will provide a connection between high school computer science curriculum, higher education computer science competencies, and industry expectations.

Computer Science Panel Seminars are designed to provide a viable plan for computer science teachers and students to increase awareness of college and business expectations and opportunities in the computer science field. Ultimately, teachers, students, educational institutions, and businesses will provide a connection between high school computer science curriculum, higher education computer science competencies, and industry expectations. This seminar Is a unique and positive experience for all parties, and hopefully, it will continue to be an annual event.

Benefits:

• Businesses - Business representatives will be given panel time to inform students about computer science opportunities at their businesses. Along with the group communication, multiple one-to-one contact opportunities will be available with top computer science students at one of the top school districts in the nation.
• Educational Institutions - Educational representatives will have the opportunity to summarize the computer science programs offered at their educational institutions. Along with the group communication, multiple one-to-one contact opportunities will be available with top computer science students at one of the top school districts in the nation.
• Students (college and career explorations) - Students in the advanced computer science classes of the Shawnee Mission District will have multiple one-to-one communication opportunities with people directly involved with the educational process and business applications in the computer science field.
• Teachers (professional development) - All Shawnee Mission district high school computer science teachers will be better prepared to work with and advise students about the educational process and business applications in the computer science field.

Current plans are to have the Computer Science Panel Seminars on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at the Indian Creek Technology Center in Classroom A. The seminars closely model a previous implementation of the same idea. The Computer Science Panel Seminars planning will also include choosing and inviting seminar participants (students, teachers, college panel, business panel, district representatives), and arranging for field trip details such as substitute teachers, transportation, break refreshments, and lunch. Site setup and publicity arrangements are also included in the plans.

Students will be asked to develop a list of questions before the seminars so they are prepared to discuss relevant topics the panels. After the seminar students will complete a post-event survey that has been prepared for this use.

Grant awarded May 2006