New Voices and New Visions for Engaging Native Americans in Computer Science

1. New Voices and New Visions for Engaging Native Americans in Computer Science

2. Broadening Participation in Computing New Voices and New Visions For Engaging Native Americans in Computer Science Glenn Bresnahan Boston University glenn@bu.edu

3. Vision To engage Native American students in computer science by creating and delivering a new curriculum that integrates art, culture and technology to create a compelling educational experience

4. Objectives • Increase the number Native American students pursuing CS and CS-related studies and careers • Create a new image of computer science by illustrating a rich and diverse set of computing application and career paths • Create a pedagogy and curriculum to serve as be a model for replicating the work in other communities

5. Project Organization • Funded under NSF’s Broadening Participation in Computing program (Jan Cuny) • Demonstration project – 2.5 years • Additonal REUs for students • Partners • Boston University: Scientific Computing and Visualization • University of New Mexico: Native American Studies, CS, HPCC, NAPCOE • Pueblo of Jemez: Jemez Department of Education, Walatowa Charter High School • Use Access Grid w/ bridged teleconference for weekly project staff meetings • Annual all-hands meeting and workshop

6. Key Components • Engage Native American students by integrating culturally relevant materials with CS concepts • Leverage existing cyber-infrastructure • Cyber-classroom connecting BU, UNM and Jemez Pueblo over Access Grid • Distributed VR using DAFFIE • Deep Vision 3d stereoscopic display • Use VR and 3D displays to create a compelling education experience • Teach digital media concepts and tools, principles of computer graphics, principles of VR, programming concepts and structures

7. Key Components • Create and deliver a new two semester, project –oriented course • Year 1 at UNM for undergraduates • Year 2 at Jemez for high school students • Students create a culturally relevant VR world • Public showings of students work • Application of CS concepts to empower the creation of an engaging VR experience • Artistic direction by renowned Native American artists • Field trips to cultural sites

8. Program Elements • Use existing AG facilities at BU, UNM and Jemez • Install DAFFIE/DVD Wall hardware and software system at UNM & Jemez • Provide summer workshops at UNM and Jemez • Offer scholarships/support for students in the courses • Provide teaching assistantships for 1st year UNM cohort to help instruct Jemez course in year 2 • Create REU programs at BU & UNM • Provide support for Native American artists for guest lectures and artistic guidance • Conduct a program evaluation • Disseminate materials via workshops, Web, presentations and showings

9. Project Timeline • Summer’06 • Install DVD Wall at UNM • Develop curriculum • UNM Student recruitment via UNM summer programs (NAPCOE) • Fall’06 – Spring’07 • Course taught at UNM • Gala showing of student work to larger community • Summer’07 • Install DVD Wall at Jemez • Jemez Workshop for high school teachers and TAs • Fall’07 – Spring’08 • Course taught at Walatowa High Charter School • Advanced projects course at UNM • Summer’08 • Complete evaluation • Web site development • Dissemination workshop

10. Course Overview • Art and Computation - Cross listed between CS and NAS • Incrementally build a VR world incorporating Native American aesthetics, images and sounds • Introduction to digital audio and recording • Native American imagery and perspective • Creation and manipulation of digital images • Computer graphics • Traditional and computer animation • Native American arts and artists • Programming using Logo • Designing and building a virtual world

11. Final Project