Cybercivics: a novel approach to reaching k-12 students with the social relevance of computer science

This paper describes CyberCivics, a novel approach to computer science outreach that integrates hands-on computing experiences with the study of contemporary social and political issues. We provide details of one such curriculum, focused on electronic voting, that we used with a high school AP Government course in Spring 2007. We describe our experience with this curriculum and how it enabled us to reach a larger, more diverse and more academically prepared group of students than prior outreach efforts targeted directly at computing courses. We also suggest a number of alternative approaches to outreach based on the CyberCivics idea. Categories and Subject Descriptors K.3.2 [Computer and Information Science Education] General Terms Education Keywords K-12, Outreach, Electronic Voting, Digital Rights Management, Security, Privacy

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: SIGCSE
• Authors: Jim Owens, Jeanna Matthews
• Keywords: Education, Electronic Voting, Integrates Hands-on Computing, Outreach, SIGCSE 2008