Focusing on your local catchment area and students' expectations of Computer Science

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Focusing on your local catchment area and
students' expectations of Computer Science

• Ed de Quincey, Keele University City University

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The Problem
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School of Computing and Mathematics, Keele
University first year student recruitment
figures CS Computer Science, IS Information
Systems ITMB Information Technology Management
for Business DH Dual Honours, SH Single Honours
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The Real Problem
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Of course you dont tell her the babys ugly,
because she sees the most beautiful baby in the
world. Its the same with entrepreneurs. They
believe their idea is great, and if they fail
theyll claim that its because the customers
got it wrong by not buying their product,
- Richard, D. (2006) UK Technology Innovation
Growth Forum
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Away Day 2007
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User Centred Design (UCD)
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design based on the needs of the user
- Norman, D. (1986) The Design of Everyday Things
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Expectations of an excellent school/ As a
prospective student what would you expect to see
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School must look well kept carpets, paint,
lighting Expect TFTs in first lab you see when
entering the building Computer facilities are
part of it but general feel of building also
important Giving students merchandise mouse
mats, usb sticks, dept clothing - so they feel
they belong Clear main entrance with focal
point All labs looking good / up to
date Research / technology room to show off
cool research
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Things in the School that do not demonstrate
excellence
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Rooms are not clean Bins are not always
emptied regularly Hole in ceiling of Babbage
lets cold air in so no one sits under it CRTs
in first lab you see No clear main
entrance Signage does not look very
good Notice boards do not look modern, and no
one uses them Walls are falling to bits / not
well painted Mismatched furniture/painting/carpe
ts in rooms
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Door Profiles
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Think Aloud
Invite reader to contact you seem approachable
has not written a book in 8 years
Looks highly depressed in the photo
Surprised she had received such a high accolade
Most appealing profiles are written in the first
person
Long list of qualifications makes you feel
confident that you are knowledgeable and good at
your job
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Open/Visit Days
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Post Visit Day Stats
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Website
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CSC-10020 The Web

• Complimentary Studies Module (CSP)
• 150 students
• 12 weeks
• 8 Practicals
• Case study
• develop a website for the School of Computing and
  Mathematics

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Card Sorting
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Think Aloud
Dont like SCAM Acronym
dated (old fashioned) dull and boring
Too much text
pointless pictures better pictures needed
no images nothing eye catching
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UG Courses
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Course Results

• A.I. Single Honours
• Intelligent Systems and Robots
• Creative Computing
• Control Systems ad Automation
• Information Systems Management
• Maths and Computing for Business
• Maths and Computing (Single Honours)
• Computing (Single Honours)
• Computing and Web Applications
• Computer Security (Single Honours)
• Pervasive Computing
• Computing Management
• Applied Computing

• Computer Science (Single Honours)
• C.S. Research with a Specialisation in
• Web Application Development
• Usability/UCD/HCI
• Game Development
• Software Development
• Artificial Intelligence
• Game Development
• Web and Internet Technologies
• Computer Game Development
• Multimedia Web Development
• Smart Systems

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Local Outreach
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Diploma in I.T.

• Access to 3 Colleges and 3 High Schools
• Pupils, Teachers and Careers Advisors
• Involved with planning stages
• Held launch at Keele Hall
• Taster sessions at Keele
• Repeated web module tasks

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What we learned
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Whats an undergraduate?
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What we gained

• Invitations to
• Parents evenings
• Careers fairs
• Podcasts/Talks
• Away days
• Launches
• Training sessions
• CONNEXIONS

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Success?
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School of Computing and Mathematics, Keele
University first year student recruitment
figures CS Computer Science, IS Information
Systems ITMB Information Technology Management
for Business DH Dual Honours, SH Single Honours
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I'm delighted to be able to let you all know
that in the latest application figures CS single
honours (including CS major) has just reach over
one hundred. For the first year this course will
run this is absolutely fantastic. What is even
better is that these very impressive figures have
been achieved without us loosing Dual Honours
students ITMB slightly up, IS Dual Honours very
slightly down and CS Dual Honours (including
Creative Computing and Smart Systems) up over 40
percent.
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• Pros

• Cons

• Increase in student numbers
• Encouraging more students into CS/IS
• Re-engaging with the local area
• Finding out what students are learning
• Good case study
• Research
• Fun

• Time
• Resources
• Financial and Skills
• Support
• Research
• Career