Intro to Computer Sci and Information Tech Course Survey
If you have read the invitation email, please scroll down to the background section to start the survey. Thank you.




Dear colleagues (from Computer Science programs and computing related disciplines),

We propose to explore and develop an accessible, semi-standardized Introduction to Computer Science (CS) and Information Technology course to address the learning needs of SUNY students regarding the fundamental concepts of computers, computing technologies, and computational thinking. The course will be designed for students without a strong computer science and information technology background; thus, the content of the course will not be focused on programming. There are many fundamental computer science and information technology topics suitable to be covered at an entry level without involving substantial coding.

Why this course would be useful?
Reason 1: The situation faced by NY higher education institutions (including our SUNY system) during the past decade and the foreseeable future is that most incoming freshmen have not had an adequate chance to learn fundamental computer science concepts back in high school. As a result, they often make uninformed decisions in choosing or rejecting computing fields as majors. This hurts not just our SUNY students, but also the broader SUNY STEM-C fields, as well as the national interest in producing more STEM-C related graduates.

Reason 2: Since most students who come to computing related fields do not have any prior preparation such as CS AP experience, we often found some of them suffer first programming course and have to drop out the major later. On the other hand, more students need to have basic computer competency regardless their future majors.

Reason 3: Some concepts should be introduced before students take programming courses. For example, binary data, using DOS commands, navigating through file systems, etc. and concepts like these do not have to be introduced in a programming course.

Reason 4: Currently SUNY system has no computer-related course that is common to all campuses. Development of such a course would support SUNY Seamless Transfer.

The course should provide the following benefits:
1. Provide a viable option for students from campuses across SUNY to learn fundamental concepts of computer science and information technology.
2. Support seamless transfer ( a possibility), either in the gened pathway or various discipline specific pathways.
3. Provide students with beneficial information to help them make informed decisions on whether or not they should pursue a degree in computer science, information technology or a computing related discipline. For those who want to subsequently choose a computer science related major, this course will provide an entry level class before students attempt more demanding CS or other computing related courses.
4. Save SUNY computer science and information technology faculty a significant amount of time in exploring and developing similar courses again and again on an individual basis.
5. Broaden the pool of students majoring in computing fields by offering the proposed course across disciplines. Those who decide not to major in computing will still benefit from learning fundamentals, making them become more confident computing technology users.

We are designing this course for it possibly to be transferable throughout the SUNY system. With that in mind it should include topics that could be useful to Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology and a broad range of computing fields.

Through this survey, we would like to get input, suggestions and feedback from the SUNY faculty members to help in designing this course. To provide your feedback , please scroll down to the survey question link or click the below link.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18mZpgb5sHhmdDQYIjtsCn4II6d6SYERS6ohQoZaNnSI/viewform


The development of this course is supported by a 2014 SUNY Innovative Instruction Technology Grant. The development team members are: Sen Zhang (PI, SUNY Oneonta), James L. Antonakos (Co-PI, Broome County Community College), Arthur Hoskey (Co-PI, Farmingdale State College), Cynthia V. Marcello (Co-PI, SUNY Sullivan), and Howard Reed (Co-PI, SUNY Delhi). Other members on the project team are Andrew Perry, Nancy Cannon and Alex Jean-Charles (from Oneonta). You are welcome to contact any of us for further discussion or requesting our proposal.


Thank you for participating!

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Your background information
Name of your institution *
Is your institution part of SUNY? Even if you are not from a SUNY institution, your feedback is appreciated. *
Required
Your name
Your email
We recognize that our 64 SUNY campuses have a broad spectrum of programs related to computing, under various names and housed within different schools. What is the name of your department or program? *
What is the name of your school (or division)? *
How many years have you taught CS or related subjects? *
Are you interested in serving as a reviewer of the outcome of the project? *
Which course does your program offer as the first computing related course? *
Required
Please share your thoughts on how to improve Introduction to Computer Science or related courses in order to benefit more students? *
Are there any issues you have experienced in teaching this type of course? *
If you have to name the first course to support seamless transfer in your discipline, what do you think the course name should be? *
What is the biggest issue you think SUNY, as a system, is facing in its attempt to improve CS or related courses in a holistic way? *
Your input is greatly appreciated
 Introduction to Computer Science needs to be accessible to all students, including non-majors, so that they can make an informed decision in choosing CS or NOT choosing CS as their major. *
Please share your thoughts regarding the above question. *
Do you agree that the whole SUNY system should have one semi-standardized concept-based Introduction to Computing course for all disciplines? *
Please briefly expand on your answer. *
Do you think it would be beneficial to have the proposed course be included in SUNY Seamless Transfer? *
Please answer the following questions. Your constructive input is greatly appreciated.
Please bear in mind that we need to make the course accessible so that it can be covered by both full-time and adjunct professors.
Which of the following do you believe is the best name for this proposed course? *
If there were three overarching learning outcomes from this proposed course, what should the first learning outcome be? *
What should the second learning outcome be? *
What should the third learning outcome be? *
Which fundamental concepts should be taught in the proposed course? In other words, which areas of Computer Science, Information Systems, and Information Technology do you think should be included in  this course? Please choose the eight topics that you think should be the core of the course. *
Required
Please specify any textbooks you would suggest using for the course?
Please specify any online materials you would suggest using for the course?
If you are interested in contributing to this project, please specify how you would be willing to contribute. *
Any other thoughts you would like to share with your SUNY colleagues? *
If you already teach a course close to the proposed course, please let us know the name and webpage.
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