Introduction to Education Center on Computational Science

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Introduction to Education Center on
Computational Science Engineering

• NSF visit
• May 23, 2002
• Dr. Kris Stewart
• San Diego State University/California State
  University System

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The EC/CSEs Mission
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• The EdCenters Mission is to
• foster the incorporation of high performance
  research tools for scientific investigation into
  the undergraduate curriculum
• to better prepare learners for post-baccalaureate
  activities where collaborative, interdisciplinary
  teams, sophisticated computer tools, and
  effective communication are used in research and
  problem solving.

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Engaging Broad Student Population

• Undergraduate faculty
• University system of rewards must recognize
  reward Interdisciplinary activities
• Curriculum development and team teaching

• Undergraduate students
• Major in Science or Engineering discipline
• Minor in Information Communications Technology

Dependent on local University Resources
Existing Programs, see Krell Institutes updated
list (Chuck Swanson)www.krellinst.org/learningcen
ter/CSE_survey.pdf
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CalREN -2...
Resources
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Building the Community of Faculty

• These challenges are people-centric, not
  technology-centric and of interest to the HPC
  community
• Systemic Change requires understanding the system
  and working within it
• Empower teachers (find the time), recognition
  (from chair/dean), support (student assistants)

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Faculty Fellows Fall 01 Synergyamong themselves
and with their chairs and deans
People, Time, Support, Recognition
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EC/CSE involves CSU

• Faculty Workshops
• Introduce Computational Science
• Host Biology Workbench (BioQuest)

• Support at NPACI AHM02
• Extend Faculty Fellows

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Involving University FacultyInfrastructure for
Change

• NPACI/SDSU Faculty FellowsLocal Support from
  College Deans and Department Chairs
  (participation buy-in and faculty recognition)
• SDSU Academic Advisors (across disciplines)
• CSU Deans and Chairs
• Professional Meeting (SC2001, SIAM, ACM, SIGCSE)

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Assessment not just requirement

• Rather, found to be
• vital tool to assist in clarifying student and
  faculty needs
• improve prioritization skills
• validation of focus on human factors to integrate
  HPC (modeling visualization) into undergrad
  curriculum

U. Wisconsin LEAD for 1998/99 Ed Center
evaluation www.cae.wisc.edu/lead/pages/products/e
ot-paci.pdf
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SWB Convenient Tool to Learn from Student Survey
Data

• Online tool for standard public data sets or
  your own data set http//edcenter.sdsu.edu
• Small Sample, therefore only useful as feedback
  for the instructor
• Can be used with forms interface directly into
  SWB format, as in June 99 CSU Faculty Workshop

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California Education Infrastructure

• K12 Education (standards based, performance
  based)
• Community Colleges (Freshman/Sophomore)
• Vocational
• University preparation
• California State University System (23 campuses)
• University of California (9 campuses, Merced in
  2004)
• Independents (Stanford U., CalTech, U. Southern
  California)

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California Education Infrastructure(testbed for
change)

• IMPAC http//www.cal-impac.org/Intersegmental
  Major Preparation Articulated Curriculum
  ProjectCommunity Colleges and Four Year
  Universities
• Charter Schools (Preuss School)
  preuss.ucsd.eduDr. Rozeanne Steckler and Dr.
  Mike BaileyFostering Scientific Curiosity in
  All ChildrenSan Diego Supercomputer Center

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Origin of the Automated Survey Creation Process

• EdCenter goal To promote the use of high
  performance computing in the undergraduate
  curriculum
• Reforms in education often require evidence of
  success before they are accepted
• One form of evidence is assessment and evaluation
  of the reformed program.

• Faculty Fellows program need for assessment
  tools.
• Sociology Workbench - Analysis of survey data
• Automated Survey Creation Process Collection
  and storage of survey data

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IMPACT of the Ed CenterThrough Conferences,
Workshops, Progams

• 1997 (Note ECCSE Open House 10 Oct 97 NPACI
  startup 1 Oct 97)50 teachers (SC97 paper
  presentation workshop)
• 1998 80 undergrad students 30 university
  undergraduate faculty
• 1999 150 undergrad students 60 university
  undergrad faculty 10 graduate students
• 2000 250 undergrad students 120 university
  faculty
• 2001 230 undergrad students 100 university
  faculty
• 2002 200-100 undergrad students 80 university
  faculty (so far)

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Collaborations with NPACI and EOT-PACI

• DAKS at SDSC (using the Sociology Workbench in
  classes and for analysis)
• Rubin Landau, Oregon State University,
  Computational Physicist (undergrad degree)
• LEAD Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• NISE, Learning Through Technology
• Boston University and SUNY Brockport
• Student Biology Workbench, NCSA Beloit U.
• University of Houston, Downtown

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More Information?

• Kris StewartProfessor, Computer Science,
  SDSUDirector, ECCSE, NPACI/CSUstewart_at_sdsu.eduJ
  eff SaleStaff Scientist, ECCSEjsale_at_edcenter.sds
  u.eduKirsten Barber, Computer Resource
  Specialistbarber_at_edcenter.sdsu.edu
• www.edcenter.sdsu.edu