Revitalizing Computer Science Education Through the Science of Digital Media
Algorithms, Scripting and Programming for Visual Art

Jennifer Burg, Principal Investigator Professor of Computer Science Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC USA

Conrad Gleber, Co-Principal Investigator Director of Digital Arts and Multimedia Design La Salle University Philadelphia, PA USA

Executive Summary

While computers have become indispensable in communication, social networking, creativity, business, science, academics, and research, the number of students majoring in computer science has fallen dramatically in recent years. Clearly, computer science educators are not taking advantage of the exciting and relevant nature of their discipline. This project investigates ways to make computer science curriculum more interesting and relevant to today's students by linking it to the science of digital media. The interdisciplinary nature of digital media -- with connections to the visual arts, engineering, music, scientific visualization, movies, television, and mobile media -- will be explored through workshops at seven colleges/universities throughout the United States. At the conclusion of the workshops a proposal for college-level computer science curriculum changes will be made that reflects input from educators, industry representatives, artists, and practitioners in areas involving digital media. The resulting curriculum is intended to have a strong scientific base linked to practice in other disciplines in ways that motivate learning and take advantage of the centrality of digital media in modern-day life.

Can computer programming in a visual context serve as a foundation for teaching computer science?

This workshop will research the use of programming for architecture, 3-D design and prototype development, data visualizations, dynamic and interactive displays and will look at the use of computer programming in commercial and academic fields. The aim is to suggest ways to incorporate the findings into computer science curricula.

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