A comprehensive curriculum for IT education and workforce development: an engineering approach

ABSTRACT

Noting the shortage of IT professionals nationally [1], we propose a comprehensive curriculum that supports a variety of programs geared to all ages from early school years to retirement and beyond. Current IT workforce development efforts are limited to training, and have not as yet focused on education and professional development. Largely, this is due to a lack of a science underpinning for IT related curricula. Without such a unified science component, a structured organization of information related concepts cannot be derived.Our proposal includes the development of a number of programs addressing the needs of a variety of learners ranging from elementary school through college and beyond. Seven programs, each with a specific emphasis for various groups, are being developed. Such essential issues as industrial-academic liaisons, workforce (re)training, promotional and awareness programs, teacher training, and IT professional role redefinition, are integral pieces of this project. All developments will be firmly founded on the scientific framework of information science and engineering [2].This work is supported by NSF grant DUE-9950168.

REFERENCES

• 1: M. Goul, H. Shredrick, "The IT workforce shortage is real" Report, Soc. for Information Management, 1999.
• 2: F. Golshani, S. Panchanathan, O. Friesen, "A Model Program in Information Science and Engineering: A timely engineering discipline created with the help of industry", Proc. FIE 2000, Kansas City, MO.
• 3: F. Golshani, et al, "Visualization and Multimedia in K12 Education" Scientific Computing & Automation, 1997, 23-6.
• 4: ISCC'99, "An information systems-centric curriculum - Program Guidelines" NSF Task Force 1999.
• 5: F. Golshani, S. Panchanathan, "The Science Foundation of an Information Engineering Curriculum", submitted for publication, accessible at http://ise.eas.asu.edu/materials/cnc_dev/cnc_dev.htm.
• 6: E. Fredkin, T. Toffoli, "Conservative Logic", International Journal of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 21, Nos. 3/4, pp 219-253, 1982.
• 7: P. Denning, "The Future of the IT Profession" Interview with P. Denning, in ACM Ubiquity, URL www.acm.org/ubiquity/interviews/p_denning_1.html

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Information systems education

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Management, Performance, Theory