DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2018.163
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2500
Date of Award
5-2018
Degree Name
MS in Computer Science
Department/Program
Computer Science
Advisor
Aaron Keen
Abstract
Reports from major tech companies, such as Airbnb, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Yahoo, indicate that gender diversity and ethnic diversity are lacking in the tech industry [22]. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 24% increase in the number of software development positions (roughly an increase of 300,000 jobs) between 2016 and 2026 [64]. The main motivation behind this thesis is to expose computer science to young children and encourage teachers to include computer science in their classrooms in the hope of contributing to the current effort of increasing diversity within tech fields in the next decade.
This thesis presents an Integrated Computer Science Unit and a teaching tool. Lessons in the Integrated Computer Science Unit utilize computer science as a tool to interactively demonstrate the lesson materials. The teaching tool is designed to help teachers generate computer science integrated lessons and assess students' work.