CPATH Faculty (Telephone Interview)

CPATH Faculty Telephone Interview Protocol

CPATH Project Title:

Grantee Institution(s):

Interviewee Name/Title/Contact Information:

Interview Date:

Interviewer(s):

Introductory Remarks:

My name is ______ and I work for SRI International, a non-profit research firm that is responsible for the evaluation of the NSF CPATH Program. The purpose of this interview is to learn more about the CPATH project at [institution name], how it is being implemented, and the effect that it has been having from a faculty member’s perspective. Throughout our discussion, please feel free to interrupt me to ask any questions you may have or include information that you believe we should know.

Before we start, I need to have you review and sign the consent form sent to you. SRI International’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) as well as the U.S. government’s Office of Management and Budget have approved this project. Your signature on this form indicates that your participation in this interview is voluntary and that you understand that we will never directly identify or quote you based on what you tell us today.

Do you have any questions before we get started?

A. Background Questions – Could you provide me with information on the following items?

1. Gender

2. Rank

3. Academic field

4. Institution type

5. Years at institution

6. Years as faculty

B. CPATH involvement

1. Do you know much about this CPATH project? What are the project’s key goals?

(IF RESPONDENT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE CPATH project, then skip questions B2-4 and start at question C1)

2. Tell me how you got involved in the CPATH project and what your role has been.

3. How has project implementation gone so far? What has been the most successful aspect of the project? What has been the biggest challenge for the project?

4. Did you work with a student researcher as part of your participation in CPATH? If so, can you describe their role working with you?

C. Curriculum Development efforts

1. Have you participated in any of your CPATH project’s curriculum/course revision or development activities? Please describe what you know about these activities?

(IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, then skip questions C2-4 and start at question D1)

2. Has the CPATH project integrated core computing concepts into courses outside the traditional computing disciplines? If so, which disciplines and how?

3. What are some of the courses that have been revised or developed that have been uniquely influenced by the CPATH project?

4. How role has the concept of computational thinking played in shaping and influencing CPATH project activities?

D. Student supports

1. Who do you think are the primary beneficiaries of the CPATH project?

2. What does the CPATH project provide students to help them develop their computing skills and prepare for a career in computing?

3. What role do you and other faculty members have in advising students in their selection of CPATH-related computing courses?

4. What CPATH activities have you and other faculty members participated in with students on collaborative projects (e.g. course revisions, modules, research projects)? Please describe the collaboration with students.

E. Community Participation

1. Have you been a part of the CPATH project’s efforts to bring participants (e.g. faculty, K12 teachers, private industry, etc.) together to discuss issues around computing education?

(IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AROUND COMPUTING, then skip questions E2-3 and start at question F1)

2. Please describe the kinds of activities the project promotes that bring faculty and other stakeholders to discuss computing issues.

3. To what extent is there a shared understanding about computing competencies needed for students among stakeholders in this community?

G. Project Outputs

1. In your view, what influence has this CPATH project had on student learning and skill development in computing? Is there any evidence you can point to that supports? Is there a perception that this project is improving student learning? How?

2. How has the CPATH project shaped faculty instructional practices in their computing classes? How do you know this?

3. Has the CPATH project led to any institutional changes? If so, explain.

H. Conclusions

1. Is there anything else you would like to add that might help us understand the CPATH project at your institution?

Thank you for your time.

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