Software development educational pathway (SDEP)

1. Colin Archibald, Valencia College Dick Grant, Seminole State College Craig Tidwell, University of Central Florida Software development educational pathway (SDEP) A collaborative project sponsored by the National Science Foundation

2. Describe the AS Computer Programming => BAS Software Development project What we have learned (so far). Collect feedback and ideas from YOU, the STEMTech attendees Today’s STEMTech Objectives

3. Project OVERVIEW

4. History • Spring 2008 – Meeting of Statewide Computer Science & Computing Technology Discipline with 14 colleges and universities – “Wouldn’t it be nice if we had an Applied Degree in Software Development?” • Feb 2009 - Meeting of DirectConnect colleges at UCF Regional Campuses: “We should combine resources and make a new track.” • October 2009 – Application to NSF – DUE – Advanced Technology Education (ATE) for a grant to create the BAS Software Development. • May 2010 – Received a project grant for $570k • July 2010 – Effective start date of NSF funding project overview

5. County Population(000) Orange 1,072 Osceola 264 Seminole 411 Lake 307 Sumter 74 Brevard 536 2,664 Who We Are

6. Brevard Community College Lake Sumter Community College Seminole State College (formerly Seminole Community College) Valencia College (formerly Valencia Community College) University of Central Florida Academic Partners

7. Colleges UCF AA Computer Science (Transfer Plan) => BS CS => MS CS => PhD AA Info Technology (Transfer Plan) => BS IT AS Computer Programming & Analysis => BIGGAPINGHOLEBAS SD AS Computer Information Technology => BAS (Applied Science) IT What do we have now?

8. Colleges offer AS using statewide Curriculum Frameworks • AS Computer Programming is one of these • Community Colleges transitioning to Colleges offering some Bachelors degrees • This BAS program could be offered by a College • Critical mass is not there for any one of the colleges … • … so this is a UCF BAS degree … • … but created by the feeder colleges! Florida Higher Ed

9. An agreement among 4 colleges and UCF • AA and AS graduates GUARANTEED admission to UCF • All credits earned during the AA or AS are automatically accepted as credit toward Bachelors degree • AS => BAS seamless transfer Direct Connect to UCF

10. UCF’s main campus is full • Joint use facilities on college campuses • Students taking a degree at Regional Campuses may NOT attend the Main campus • BAS is a Regional Campuses Degree • GenEd is taken at the “feeder” College • The Core and the Track are taken at UCF • The BAS SD Track courses are ONLINE UCF Regional Campuses

11. What are the issues that we need to address? • AA CS => BS CS Not for everybody, but the only path to a Bachelors degree in software • AS CP&A Doesn’t always offer the students what they need to get the career that they want • Employers want a Bachelor’s degree – especially larger companies • Some require a 4-year degree as a minimum • 2 year program is not long enough to achieve sufficient depth as a software developer Issues to Address

12. What are the issues that we need to address? Take a look at job descriptions … • Searched nation-wide for jobs that have “Software Engineer” in the title. • The job descriptions did not match the BS CS program outcomes • They require OJT (On the Job Training) “2 years of experience” Issues to Address (Cont.)

13. Example search results: • They require a Bachelors degree. • Associate Degrees (424) • Bachelor Degrees (8,975) • In Orlando, where the Education level is specified there were - • Associate Degrees (12) • Bachelor Degrees (224) Job Descriptions Posted

14. Lockheed Martin Disney SAIC AAA Northrop Grumman EA Sports United Space Alliance Every company that was invited to participate agreed to participate. Industry Partners

15. Curriculum Alignment • Be sure that the colleges have similar outcomes for the AS degree to facilitate transition into the BAS SD courses • Industry Advisory Board - active in creating the curriculum • DACUM • Intercollegiate Software Competition • BAS SD Curriculum • Course Development • Online Advising / Communities • Faculty Development • Outreach to High Schools, under-represented groups • Marketing • Dissemination Project Deliverables

16. Partner ROLES

17. Academic Partners • Understand the learning needs of the student • Cognitive Development Role of partners in project Application Comprehension Knowledge

18. Academic Partners • Understand the employment needs of industry • Create & deliver a curriculum that makes sense to the student AND to the employer • Engaging, accessible, interesting, exciting, participatory, hands-on, and experiential • Relevant and responsive to employer needs • AS -> BAS smooth transition Role of partners in project

19. Provide academic advisors with support, training and information on the program • Support the Intercollegiate Programming Competition, faculty development opportunities, and curriculum alignment Academic partners in project (continued)

20. Industry Partners • Develop a Curriculum (DACUM) – What makes sense to industry in the curriculum? • Ensure graduates are employable at graduation • Course Content Development • Share findings and opinions regarding software developer requirements • Continual feedback from industry professionals • Define projects for “in-class experience” • Model real-world examples to be used in courses (help meet OJT requirements for employment) Role of Industry partners in project

21. Internships – after 3rd year • Hire graduates • Be involved in annual intercollegiate programming competition • Examples include - support, recognition, judging, and sponsorship • Provide feedback and review • Participate in advisory meetings and conference calls • Adjunct professors and guest lecturers Industry partners in project (continued)

22. Results of Programming Competition held at Seminole State College on March 19, 2011

23. Data and results • 34 competitors • 4 programming problems • 3 hours to complete • Winners determined by number of problems solved and the total time taken. • The competitors could choose their language from C, C++, Java, C#, or Visual Basic. • Judging of the solutions was done by professional software developers from AAA, Clear Channel, and Lockheed Martin.

24. winners • 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners • Prizes $500, $250, and $100 • Drawing for $300 in gift cards and 10 EA games • Prizes donated by AAA, Disney, EA, and Cengage Publishing

25. winners

26. Curriculum to Date

27. Courses and sequence

28. New BAS Track in Software Development • Entry Point • AS Programming and Analysis (63 hrs) • OR Other AS with “bridge courses” • Core Requirements: • 1. UCF General Education Program (+ 18 - 21 hrs) • 2. Common Program Prerequisites (none) • 3. Required Core (10 - 11 hrs) • New Track in Software Development (21 hrs) • Electives (from S/W Dev (?) 8 – 12 hrs) Total BAS: 120 hrs Track information

29. SW I and SW II courses have been developed and were completed in June 2011 • Major courses approved by UCF curriculum committee September, 2011. • Track to be approved by November 2011 • Started working on other courses in Fall 2011 to be ready for Spring 2012 and Summer 2012 • Advanced Database Solutions • Software Configuration, Integration, and Testing Current status

30. Curriculum alignment

31. Ongoing between UCF and the 4 state/community colleges (started 6 years ago with math). • Groups – Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Math, and Physics • Aligning common course content for consistency. • Evaluated based on priority of material. • M = Mandatory • O = Optional • V = Overview • R = Review • Sharing of best practices, techniques, and labs. Curriculum alignment

32. Introduction to Programming Java Advanced Java Database Management Web programming Other related courses Plan to include secondary and middle school faculty as related. Courses aligned to date

33. Example alignment

34. online communications - advising, teaching, etc

35. Advising, teaching, office hours, TA’s, student group work, etc. Use a variety of tools FaceBook! online communications

36. Learning from students

37. online communications - advising, teaching, etc • Reducing the “distance” in distance education • Skype to have students “share screen” for online office hours • Identified a good web-cam for faculty, advisors, students (audio is important) Ordered a bunch of them. • One advisor at Valencia is communicating face-to-face at a distance with students and faculty

38. Faculty Development

39. Industry professional lead week-long courses to strengthen the pool of faculty at the 4 colleges Next… C# Java and advanced java for faculty

40. Get students/faculty/advisors used to communicating with online tools Find credential-able faculty who can do a good job delivering these classes online Working with the ‘processes’ at UCF Keeping up with what we need to know in S/W Understanding students who are younger than the internet Risks, Challenges, “issues”

41. The students have changed Then… and Now

42. Community Colleges can “drive” curriculum for major university • Don’t compete with university program(s) • Get university people on your side through involvement • Communicate constantly • Be willing to solve the university’s problem if you caused it! What We’ve LEarned

43. Community Colleges can cooperate and still compete for students • Do what’s right for the student • Local industry wants a seat at the table • Don’t just ask for their input – use it also • Implementing curriculum always takes longer than you think! What We’ve Learned

44. How do you communicate with regional colleges/universities in your area? • Would regional 4-year schools be willing to partner to put together a 2+2 program with your institution? • Determine a good fit! Attendee feedback / ideas

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