Interdisciplinary Computing
Raising the Bar for Computing Education
Program in
Interdisciplinary
Computing
Florida State University
Creating the foundation
for the next generation
of university-wide
computing education
Knowledge
+ Technology
Innovation
Technology in College
Traditional Approach
Criminology
Philosophy
COMP
LIT
Engineering
Motion
Picture
Technology in College
Computer Literacy Circa 1996
Technology in College
Computer Literacy Circa 2008
Technology in College
Computer Fluency
Concepts
• Digital Technologies
• Network Technologies
• Business Information
Systems
• Digital Media
• Information Security
• Digital Society
Skills
• Microsoft Office
• File Management
• Personal Information
Management
• Internet Communications
• Collaborative Tools
• Web Development &
Technologies
• Digital Graphics &
Photography
Disciplinespecific
Computing
Technology in College
Discipline-specific Computing
Criminology
Philosophy
COMP
LIT
Engineering
Motion
Picture
Technology in College
Problems with Discipline-specific Computing
Criminology
• Waste & Redundancy
Philosophy
– Similar computing classes
taught by multiple units
Engineering
• Drain on Unit Resources
Motion
Picture
– Faculty
– Technology Infrastructure
and Software
• Shortage of Experts
Technology in College
Issues with computing experts teaching deeper computing skills to
non-computing majors:
• Computing professionals are not familiar with
computing problems from various disciplines.
• Non-computing students are not interested in
learning computing for the sake of computing.
• Traditional teaching methods used to teach
computing do not engage non-computing majors.
• By their nature, It is a challenge for any one
discipline to offer interdisciplinary computing
courses, and do them justice.
Program in
Interdisciplinary
Computing
Florida State University
PIC Goal
History
Anthropology
Discover common computing needs between
disciplines and work with colleges and departments
to develop courses to meet those needs.
Communications
Motion
Picture
Philosophy
Visual Arts
Business
Economics
Criminology
Social Work
PIC Organizational Structure
Steering Committee
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Information
Faculty
•Arts & Sciences
•Information
•Human Sciences
•Communication
•Business
•Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance
Ken Baldauf
Kyle Gower-Winter
Faculty & Teaching
Assistants from a variety of
disciplines
PIC Course Models
• PIC-hosted Courses
– Designed and delivered solely by PIC faculty
• Collaborative Courses
– PIC faculty + other faculty from invested departments
• Department-hosted Courses
– Taught without PIC faculty, promoted by PIC
• PIC Guest Lectures
– Injecting technology modules in non-tech courses
PIC Collaborative Courses
Blended lecture + discipline-specific recitations,
projects, and exams
Lecture
Recitation
Marketing
Marketing
Studio Art
Business
Consumer Science
Studio Art
Consumer
Science
Information
PIC Approach
• Inclusive
• accommodating all types of students
• Goal-Oriented
• Goal-oriented approach, using discipline-specific
problems provided by degree programs
• New Teaching Methods
• Use of video lessons and online learning
• Pair programming allows students to learn
together
• Group projects using real-life scenarios
• Robust Student Support
PIC Courses
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Digital Foundations
Information Science
Programming w/Visual Studio
Technologies for Info Pros
Desktop Multimedia
New Communications Technology
Intro to Scientific Computing
Calculations using Matlab and Maple
Web Application Development
Web Interface Design w/Java
Spreadsheets
Web Design
Databases
Geographic Info Systems
IDC
• This course prefix is designated to accommodate
courses that teach interdisciplinary computing and
information technologies across non-computing
disciplines to provide students with the technical
skills to make them competitive within their
discipline.
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000-099 intro/survey courses
100-199 data/information management
200-299 numerical analysis
State of Florida Approved
300-399 digital media
400-499 Web Development
500-599 Programming
600-699 Information and Communication Technology
700-799 Individual and Societal Implication
PIC
Supports FSU’s Overarching Goals
• “Maximize the opportunity for interaction, offering
effective and efficient curricula, and sharing of
resources among programs/units with common and/or
related learning objectives.”
• “Ensure educational programs prepare students to
meet the demands and challenges of 21st century
society.”
PIC Financial Benefits
• Computing experts share
knowledge across multiple
disciplines
• Redundant course offerings are
reduced
• Academic units can pool resources
to invest in expensive hardware,
software, and systems
FSU’s Information
Commons – a $54 M
computing facility for 2010
State of the PIC
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Teaching two courses
Guest Lecturing
Designing three courses
Preparing 20 courses for IDC course
numbers
• Meeting bi-weekly with steering
committee
• Evangelizing
PIC
Creating the foundation for the
next generation of universitywide computing education
Thank you!