Mikel Berger Alka Harriger Andy Dooley Chad Heck Obstacles to Alice Adoption in the High School Classroom Presentation at 2009 Alice Symposium

Slide 2 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck Overview The SPIRIT program Teacher obstacles Facility obstacles Administration obstacles Information Technology staff obstacles

Slide 3 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck SPIRIT–Attract People to IT Surprising Possibilities Imagined and Realized through Information Technology –See SPIRIT website: –Supported by a $1.26M grant from the National Science Foundation, #DRL –Three-year project: January 2008 – December 2010 –Intervention programs for HS teachers, HS counselors, and HS students

Slide 4 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck SPIRIT's Goals Correct negative perceptions about IT –IT skills relevant to a broad range of disciplines –IT can benefit society –IT can be fun, welcoming, interesting –Both men and women can have successful careers in IT Let participants try out and create many interesting & useful applications of IT Give guidance on what to do now to have a successful career in IT

Slide 5 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck Teacher obstacles Alice Versions Programming and science courses English and Foreign Languages

Slide 6 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck Facility Obstacles Hardware requirements Computer lab classroom scheduling

Slide 7 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck Administration Obstacles Supporting the teacher Standards Teaching across the curriculum Inquiry-based learning Lesson integration

Slide 8 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck IT Staff Obstacles Scheduling Support Teachers and IT staff

Slide 9 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck Conclusions Positive response One-time obstacles = viral growth

Slide 10 © 2009, Mikel Berger, Alka Harriger, Andy Dooley, Chad Heck Want more information about SPIRIT? SPIRIT contact –Alka Harriger, SPIRIT PI Phone: FAX: –