Strengthening Pathways to Information and Computing Education

This project aims to serve the national interest by creating early opportunities to develop students' computational thinking and problem-solving skills, which are increasingly critical in a technology-driven society. While computer science course offerings continue to expand across U.S. high schools, many smaller schools, including schools for the deaf, have limited capacity to provide foundational computing coursework and related learning experiences. At the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a college within the Rochester Institute of Technology, faculty in the Information and Computing Studies (ICS) Department have observed that many students enter postsecondary technician education programs with limited exposure to computing concepts, STEM role models, and computing career pathways. The Strengthening Pathways to Information and Computing Education (SPICE) project will expand opportunities for middle school and high school students to engage in dual-credit computer courses, hands-on computing activities, and early experiences with artificial intelligence (AI), computational thinking, and problem-solving. These experiences are designed to increase career awareness, strengthen self-efficacy, and build foundational skills that support successful transitions into postsecondary computing and information technology programs. The project will also develop educational resources, instructional materials, and professional development opportunities for educators, while fostering partnerships among schools for the deaf, deaf education programs, industry, and higher education institutions. In addition to broadening participation in computing and information technology education, the project will generate instructional strategies and best practices that can be adapted across educational settings to enhance computing instruction for all learners. By strengthening pathways to computing careers, increasing workforce readiness, and advancing effective teaching and learning practices, the project will contribute to the nation's capacity for innovation and technological advancement. The goal of the SPICE project is to develop programming tools that support students who pursue and complete an associate degree in NTID's ICS Department and ultimately enter the technician workforce. Following a multi-faceted approach, the project team will (1) improve career awareness and self-efficacy among middle school and high school students; (2) enhance pedagogical skills in teaching computational thinking, problem solving, and AI literacy by providing professional development to teachers; (3) create a new Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving course for ICS and high school dual credit students; (4) implement a faculty-led recruitment model to strengthen enrollment in associate degree programs; and (5) standardize signs for computing to enhance technical understanding. Through these efforts, the project aims to establish a clear, supported pathway for students to strengthen their computational thinking and problem-solving skills, pursue associate degrees, and ultimately expand the pipeline of qualified technicians in the information technology and computing fields. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program, which focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.