An Analysis of the Relationship Between Powerpoint Instruction and Students’ Retention Score in Computer Science (Database Management System) in Colleges of Education in Rivers State

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of power point instruction on students’ retention in computer science DBMs in colleges of education in Rivers State South-South of Nigerian. Two hypotheses guided the study. Four research assistants were trained and used for the study. The research assistants did the teaching and administered tests. COSAT were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by three experts, two from computer science and one in measurement and education. The internal consistency index was 0.79. The design of the study was a quasi-experimental study of pre-test and post-test, non-equivalent control group. Pre-COSAT and post-COSAT were administered few days before treatment begins. Treatment lasted for six/6 weeks, after treatment, both tests were reshuffled and administered as post-test COSAT. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the null hypotheses were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The results of the analysis revealed that the experimental group obtained a higher mean retention score than the control group in the post-COSAT. The difference was significant. The male students also had higher mean retention scores than the female counterparts. Keywords: PowerPoint Instruction, Retention Score, Colleges of Education, Computer Science & Data Base Management system

Enhancing Computer Science Students’ Retention through Video, Animation and Audio Voice Thread Modes in Colleges of Education in North-Central Nigeria

Achievement in a subject is more meaningful when a learner is able to retain the knowledge gained for a longer period of time. This study therefore focused on the need to enhance college of education students’ retention through video, animation and audio voice thread modes in North-central Nigeria. Three research questions raised were answered and three null hypotheses were also tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a quazi-experimental design in which intact classes of students in participating schools were used. A multi-stage sampling technique was used and a total of 210 students constituted sample size of the study. Intact classes of students were randomly assigned to experimental group I (voice thread video mode), experimental group II (voice thread animation mode), and the control group (voice thread audio mode). Voice thread modes were used as treatment instrument while computer science achievement test which was administered at posttest and retention test was used for data collection. The instrument was satisfactorily subjected to validation and reliability checks. Data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Analysis of Covariance statistics. Findings that emanated from the study revealed that the retention ability of both male and female students were enhanced by video and animation voice thread modes better than the audio mode. It was recommended that these two modes should be integrated in teaching and learning in colleges of education for improved retention of students in computer science

An assessment tool for teaching aids towards the retention of female students in computer science

Attempts to bridge the gender-equity gap have exposed the predominant under-representation of women in Computer Science which has been ascribed to high attrition rates in the undergraduate stream for female students. Challenges that commonly confront female students in Computer Science have been grouped as follows: inadequately designed curriculum, poor teaching methods, student-teacher relationship and insufficient content of teaching materials. This grouping could be referred to as teaching aids and they form part of the equity strategies that could address under -representation of women in Computer Science. Solving the gender equity problem requires multi-dimensional approach with strategies to include periodically reviewed curriculum, proper classroom management, appropriate teaching methods, teacher training, policy reform, school construction, scholarships award among others. Therefore, to reduce female attrition, comprehensive assessment of the teaching aids becomes imperative. This work aims at developing the assessment tool that will serve as a guide or template for evaluating teaching aids for courses in computer science. A pilot study on the usefulness of the tool has been conducted on three courses randomly selected from first, second and third year in Computer Science Department, UCT. The tool has successfully tracked the progress, identified lapses; suggest proactive corrective actions that will subsequently improve the teaching aids and female students’ retention in the programme. The weight of the usefulness of this tool in retaining female students in Computer Science will be better felt in future

Gender Differences in Computer Science Education: Lessons Learnt from an Empirical Study at NTNU

Research in Computer Science (CS) education has focused on gender differences and there is high interest in increasing female participation in CS. The present study reviews important factors that influence CS students’ decision to complete their studies in CS (retention), and empirically examines how these factors differ for males and females. To this end, we identify cognitive and non-cognitive gains, cognitive and affective engagement, motivation to study, and three different barriers as critical factors in CS students’. We test these factors on 236 Norwegian CS students in order to find any potential gender differences. The findings indicate a gender difference for cognitive gains, affective engagement, motivation to study, and satisfaction with learning effectiveness. On the other hand, no difference was found for non-cognitive gains, cognitive engagement, personal values/teaching quality, and students’ intention to dropout from their studies. The study concludes with implications that will guide both research and practice towards a better understanding of both male and female CS students

EFFECTS OF VIDEO BLOG INSTRUCTIONAL PACKAGE ON ACHIEVEMENT AND CONCEPTS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL

This study was carried out to determine the effect of Video Blog on achievement and concepts in Computer science among Junior Secondary School Students in Abuja Municipal Area Council. The study employed a quasi-experimental designed, pre-test post-test control group design. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting two (2) Government Junior secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. The samples of 120 students across the two (2) schools were randomly selected and assign to Experimental and Control group respectively. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were raised to guide the study and were tested at 0.05 level of significant. The reliability co-efficient of CSAT was 0.65. The data collected was analyzed using means and Standard Deviation (SD) for the research questions, while the null hypotheses were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), t – test statistics and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using statistic package for social science (SPSS) version 20.0. The Video Blog Package was validated by Two (2) computer science experts from school of technology education, while the CSAT was validated by Computer Science teachers in the two secondary schools used for the research. The Video Blog Instructional Package was field tested at Junior Secondary School, Tundun Wada, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja with 20 students for Pilot study; the Pilot study is to test run the effectiveness of the package. There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of male and female students taught computer science using Video Blog Instructional Package (VBIP) the study also revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean retention scores of students taught computer science using video blog and those taught using discussion method. Based on the findings of the research, it was recommended among others that teachers and educators can utilize Video Blog Instructional Package (VBIP) for teaching computer science concepts but lecture method when used appropriately can also enhance academic performance of the students and Video Blog Instructional Package (VBIP) in teaching and learning computer science serves as a stimulus which emboldens good performance in their studies

Assessing a Scholarship Program for Underrepresented Students in Computer Science & Information Technology

There continue to be underrepresented student populations in undergraduate computer science and information technology programs in the United States and Pennsylvania. Despite some enrollment growth, female students in particular continue to be underrepresented. The authors are in the final year of managing a five-year, $614,375 program to support underrepresented student populations in our majors via scholarships and supporting activities, funded by the National Science Foundation. The program has been particularly successful in recruiting and retaining female students. We have discovered several patterns of behavior that provide early warnings for at-risk students. Lack of first-semester contribution to simple activities such as suggested blogging are about 93% accurate in predicting students who will not remain in the program due to lack of motivation and/or reliable work habits. Scholars leave the program because of low grade point averages, changes to non-STEM majors, or dropping out of college. Low incoming standardized exam scores also provide warnings. Detecting at-risk students early, and making continued scholarship support contingent on attendance at classes and tutoring sessions, are promising means for improving retention. Additional, more positive types of intervention are considered. Some of our findings may apply to our department’s overall undergraduate population

Possible Self Dynamics of Community College Students Engaged in 3D Printing in Informal Environments

The overall number of students from diverse backgrounds and women that graduate from community college with degrees in high paying Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines is unacceptably low. The number of opportunities to gain exposure to STEM-based expressions of technology to overcome the dearth of exposure in high school is limited in community college. 3D Printing uses computer-controlled machines to build physical objects one layer at a time starting from the bottom up. The computer-controlled nature of 3D Printing provides a low risk, low cost platform to exercise elements of computer programming and engineering. This study was a phenomenological, qualitative study that was designed to fully describe the process of community college student engagement with 3D Printing. There were three data collection components in the study; first was an initial interview combined with naturalistic observation. Second was recorded documentation in the form of 3D printed objects that students produced. Third was a culminating interview of the participants after they had engaged in a critical number of 3D Printing activities. The results of the study were overwhelming. Students who aspired to be engineers used the lab to sharpen their skills in a low-stakes, high reward setting. Students who worked in the lab expressed greater confidence in their STEM skills. Students considered changing their majors to STEM academic courses of study from social science. Female students overcame a lifetime of counter-messages about women in STEM. Finally, a mountain biking component was designed, manufactured, and field tested by an aspiring engineer who had yet to take a single course in the college engineering curriculum. Based on the findings, it is recommended that 3D Printing be applied more broadly in student supported, peer educated lab settings. STEM majors, in particular engineering and computer science students see a great value in using the machines. Long term study of the retention and graduation rates of students who engage in 3D Printing will be useful for colleges and universities who seek to increase the number of graduating STEM majors at their institutions

An Investigation into Gender Disparities in the Field of Computing

This paper explains the reasons as to why there is under-representation of females computer science. Recent research undertaken at a British University focused on gender imbalance amongst academic staff in the Faculty of Technology and Environment, Liverpool John Moores University. The paper presents evidence that suggests the significance of identifying female role models in the field as a precursor to improving the current gender imbalance amongst academic faculty. In addition, the paper suggests the importance of addressing the negative stereotypical images related to the discipline and suggests the importance of identifying barriers to access and mobility females encounter in the field. The results of this initial investigation demonstrate the subjective belief amongst female academic faculty that in the School of Computing is dominated by male academics. Further, this belief pattern manifests itself in a perceived lack of motivation for promotion in the School. It can be concluded that the deeply entrenched belief system determines a lack of attempts to seek and secure promotion amongst all grades of female faculty. The paper proposes recommendations which the School could adopt to improve recruitment and retention of female academic staff and students

Recruitment, Preparation, Retention: A case study of computing culture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Computer science is seeing a decline in enrollment at all levels of education, including undergraduate and graduate study. This paper reports on the results of a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign which evaluated students attitudes regarding three areas which can contribute to improved enrollment in the Department of Computer Science: Recruitment, preparation and retention. The results of our study saw two themes. First, the department's tight research focus appears to draw significant attention from other activities -- such as teaching, service, and other community-building activities -- that are necessary for a department's excellence. Yet, as demonstrated by our second theme, one partial solution is to better promote such activities already employed by the department to its students and faculty. Based on our results, we make recommendations for improvements and enhancements based on the current state of practice at peer institutions.Comment: 37 pages, 13 figures. For better quality figures, please download the .pdf from http://www.cs.uiuc.edu/research/techreports.php?report=UIUCDCS-R-2007-281