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Obstacles to Alice Adoption in the High School Classroom. Mikel Berger Alka Harriger Andy Dooley Chad Heck. Presentation at 2009 Alice Symposium. Overview. The SPIRIT program Teacher obstacles Facility obstacles Administration obstacles Information Technology staff obstacles.
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Obstacles to Alice Adoption in the High School Classroom Mikel Berger Alka Harriger Andy Dooley Chad Heck Presentation at 2009 Alice Symposium
Overview • The SPIRIT program • Teacher obstacles • Facility obstacles • Administration obstacles • Information Technology staff obstacles
SPIRIT–Attract People to IT • Surprising Possibilities Imagined and Realized through Information Technology • See SPIRIT website: www.ITPossibilities.org • Supported by a $1.26M grant from the National Science Foundation, #DRL-0737679 • Three-year project: January 2008 – December 2010 • Intervention programs for HS teachers, HS counselors, and HS students
SPIRIT's Goals • Correct negative perceptions about IT • IT skills relevant to a broad range of disciplines • IT can benefit society • IT can be fun, welcoming, interesting • Both men and women can have successful careers in IT • Let participants try out and create many interesting & useful applications of IT • Give guidance on what to do now to have a successful career in IT
Teacher obstacles • Alice Versions • Programming and science courses • English and Foreign Languages
Facility Obstacles • Hardware requirements • Computer lab classroom scheduling
Administration Obstacles • Supporting the teacher • Standards • Teaching across the curriculum • Inquiry-based learning • Lesson integration
IT Staff Obstacles • Scheduling • Support • Teachers and IT staff
Conclusions • Positive response • One-time obstacles = viral growth
Want more information about SPIRIT? • SPIRIT contact • Alka Harriger, SPIRIT PI • Phone: 765-494-2565 • FAX: 765-496-1212 • Email: harrigea@purdue.edu • www.ITPossibilities.org