The JETT Program:
Building a Learning
Partnership Between
High School & University
Computer Science
Educators
Chris Stephenson
Suzanne Menzel
Kelly Van Busum
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Introductions
Chris Stephenson
Oregon State University, New School of Education
Suzanne Menzel
Indiana University, Computer Science Department
Kelly Van Busum
DePauw University, Computer Science Department
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
High School CS is Changing
 Different
programming languages
 Multiple
classes
 Combined
classes
 Preconceived notions
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of computer science
Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Relationship Building is Important
 Mutually
beneficial
High schools
• Universities
•
 Gets
students interested in science
 Improves
retention rates
 Community outreach is
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good for everyone
Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Identifying Teacher Skills Needs

The AP switch from C++ to Java created concerns
about teacher preparedness

A CSTA/ACM national survey of high school
computer science teachers in 2003 highlighted a
significant number of skill and confidence gaps
that were used to provide recommendations to
JETT host sites
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Survey Results
The survey revealed that CS teachers have the least amount of
knowledge about the following elements of the AP course:
 O-O
design
 Advanced O-O concepts
 Exceptions
 Data structures
 Class variables and methods
 Intro to object-oriented programming in Java
 Input using a console class
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
What is JETT?
Java Engagement For
Teacher Training
A multi-level mentorship program to provide
relevant professional development to high school
teachers and address the growing equity issues in
computing education
Grace Hopper Celebration
Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
The JETT Model




Involves university faculty, graduate and undergraduate
students, College Board computer science consultants, local
high school teachers and CSTA/ACM
Universities host a workshop and provide ongoing
learning/mentoring experiences for local high school teachers
Host sites apply to be part of the JETT program and
applications are reviewed by the JETT Steering Committee
Acceptance is based upon the extent to which the school meets
the JETT criteria
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
The JETT Criteria
All host sites must:
 Assemble
a planning group (a university faculty member, at
least one graduate student, and a College Board AP CS
endorsed consultant)
 Provide a program for face-to-face learning for teachers
 Incorporate a component that addresses the engagement of
students not traditionally attracted to computer science
 Provide ongoing community support for high school CS
educators
 Make the teaching materials developed for this workshop
available to the central JETT web repository (hosted by
ACM) for distribution to educators
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Central Support
CSTA/ACM Provide a JETT Coordinator who:
 Helps
guide host sites through the application process
 Helps the site reach out to local teachers and provides
on-going promotional support
 Helps to identify possible sources of funding
 Works with the College Board to find an AP consultant
 Oversees the centralized registration for all sites
 Manages the JETT website
 Manages the workshop evaluation process
 Provides event swag for teacher participants
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Benefits of Being a JETT Host
Provides professional development for high school teachers
 Exposes teachers to a broad view of computer science
 Helps recruit top students from participating high schools
 Showcases campus, faculty, and computing facilities
 Rewarding for faculty and students

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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Finding Funding Sources
Finding funding for the workshop can be a
challenge. Here are some possible sources:
 From
your department and others (Cs, Informatics,
Business
 From other Deans such as the Office of Women’s
Affairs
 From local or national corporations or businesses
(especially those doing business with your
institution)
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Finding Teachers
It really helps to do local recruiting of teachers:
 ACM-provided
state wide mailing lists
 Listserv announcements
 DOE website
 Events calendars (faculty, university, etc.)
 Local ACM chapter
 Brochure
 Add extra events such as a film screening
 Offer freebies (books, ACM memberships, iPod raffle)
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Why Deal with
Gender Issues?
 Raises
general awareness
 Builds
a community of people who care
 Provides
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support for women teachers
Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
How Do We Do It?
 Devote
a special session to the topic
 Panel discussion: involve faculty, graduate, and
undergraduate students
 Make women a strong presence by using mostly
female lab assistants
 Address the problem when discussing teaching
strategies
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
How Do Teachers Respond?
 Teachers
 Raises
respond positively
their awareness
 Prompts them
to act as agents of change in
their schools
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Using the Model Beyond Java
 Working with
 Teaching
students directly
teachers
 Introducing computer science,
not just
programming
 Promoting science
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education
Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
What Have We Learned?
 Focus
on a few fundamental topics
 Include
fun topics like Java3D
 Show
computing in context (e.g. weather
modeling)
 Parallel tracks are good: Decaf and Expresso
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Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
The JETT Model Evolves
We have continually refined JETT to make it a better
experience for host sites and teachers:
 Streamlining the
application process
 Providing exemplars from successful sites
 Helping sites improve their knowledge of AP requirements
 Improving the evaluation process
 Providing more information on funding sources
 Sharing instructional resources among sites
Grace Hopper Celebration
Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004
Contact Information
Chris Stephenson (Computer Science
Teachers Association)
cstephenson@acm.org
Suzanne Menzel (Indiana University)
menzel@indiana.edu
Kelly Van Busum (Depauw University)
kvanbusum@depauw.edu
Grace Hopper Celebration
Stephenson, Menzel, Van Busum
October 7, 2004