ETC@BMC

Laura Blankenship January 17th, 2007

This is the opening general session. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County, is speaking about Institutional issues in IT from the perspective of a college president. The framework for his talk is both Brian Hawkins’ talk at the national conference and the book The Whole Mind (?), by Daniel Pink. The three key words are Access, Accountability and Assessment.

Access is more than getting into college. It’s also acquiring the skills needed to be successful. The Economy is driven by the knowledge of our citizens. We are competing globally. How to we prepare our own students to do well? 30% of UMBC’s graduates are in IT. America is not necessarily the model that other countries are using to develop higher ed industry. Only 18% of every elementary school class will get a B.A. in 6 years. There is increasingly a lack of emphasis on education. It’s about giving students the opportunity to get good jobs. The vast majority of Americans do not have a college degree. In the 1950s, jobs did not require a college degree. People could make a good living without a degree. Not so any more.

Graduation rates are lower among people of color. Only about half of the students who enter college will graduate. How do we compare? We are 2nd to last in graduation rates. Only Mexico is below us. Connect what we do to connect what we do in college to what we do in K-12. The enrollment in IT fields has declined by 40% while jobs in those fields are increasing. Shortages in IT may be similar to shortages in nursing and teaching.

Women and people of color are severely underrepresented in these fields. Notes that the room contains about 35% women, but very few people of color. We don’t think about what might be but what we’re accustomed to. If we don’t see women in these fields, for example, then we assume that that’s just the way it is. Two programs at UMBC–model scholars which helps people of color obtain Ph.D.s and the Center for Women in Technology focused on attracting women to these fields while working with middle school children. Showing a video of CWIT–some cool robotic stuff there.

Schools stopped spending money on the issue of attracting women into these fields.

What can we do?

• Be role models–as IT workers, we can show that these fields are exciting. What will the jobs in 2010 look like. Think about the liberal arts in technology. Think broadly–project management and technical.
• Elearning–just in time learning modules will plug the gaps in skills
• Analytics–use data analysis techniques to help students think about issues in an academic setting. Help them make good decisions.

Assessment. Spellings commission. This is no time to be defensive. University skills are not always easily assessed. We need to look at how students learn best. Classes are still taught through traditional lectures and textbooks. How do we open people’s minds to work with students who are tech savvy? IT people are working with research centers to develop new ways of teaching math and science, to create more math and science teachers and researchers.

Use of student portfolios. Track competency. We are slow to change. We rarely look in the mirror to see where we are least effective. If colleges and universities were effective, companies wouldn’t need training programs. Put students into small groups to solve problems rather than have them listen to lectures. Use your curiosity and knowledge to solve the problem.

Share course materials across classes so that best practices can be developed. Faculty do not interact with each other enough and talk about what’s working and what’s not. Many of our students are bored. How can we use their excitement about technology to get them to be active learners?

Tight integration between elearning and faculty development. How do you build on faculty curiosity? Problem vs. opportunity. Can’t make anybody in the academy do anything. Change attitudes through persuasion. Augment traditional lectures with simulations and other ways of presenting material. Self assessment is also useful. Encourages involvement.

Accountability. Overall student success often measured by graduation rates. Literacy. Computer literacy.

Giving us a math problem. Problems should be solved quickly–that’s our attitude. Breadth vs. depth. Not giving us the answer to the problem. Here’s the problem: There are 29 children in class, 20 have dogs, 15 have cats. How many have both a dog and cat? IT professionals help people solve problems. We tend not to get frustrated. How do we help others not get frustrated and learn to solve the problem on their own? People need to learn to struggle and think things through. The need to have a quick answer is a part of American culture.

Data from alumni and employees can show how successful the graduates are. UMBC works to cut costs and become more effective by working in similar ways that private sectors work. Has a program to show the legislature how well they’re doing. Automating certain processes so that faculty can focus on teaching and research.

Leaders’ attitudes are important. Need to have a positive attitude and be excited about the work at hand. “You’re on this side of the grass.” Enthusiasm is often frowned upon in the academy. Can’t be your best if you’re being cynical.

Ended with the quote: “Watch your thoughts for they become your words. Watch your words for they become your actions. Watch your actions for they become your habits. What your habits for they become your character. Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.”

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