THE PROBLEM
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The way computer science is taught has recently been brought into question as enrollment rates have dramatically decreased since 2000. Also, some universities are reporting that more than 50\% of students that begun studying computer science abandon the course. Computer science should be presented as interesting, effective and minority inclusive. One of the main ideas to try and realize these criteria is contextualized learning, and to use educational games as a way of conveying this curriculum. Several universities and schools have begun using this approach and have received very positive feedback from the programs. Computer science is a distinctly male dominated field and this project proposes that teaching in a highly dynamic and contextualized way will increase the enthusiasm and understanding of student. It should also encourage female students to persevere and excel in the field, despite other factors that could discourage them.
The way computer science is taught has recently been brought into question as enrollment rates have dramatically decreased since 2000. Also, some universities are reporting that more than 50\% of students that begun studying computer science abandon the course. Computer science should be presented as interesting, effective and minority inclusive. One of the main ideas to try and realize these criteria is contextualized learning, and to use educational games as a way of conveying this curriculum. Several universities and schools have begun using this approach and have received very positive feedback from the programs. Computer science is a distinctly male dominated field and this project proposes that teaching in a highly dynamic and contextualized way will increase the enthusiasm and understanding of student. It should also encourage female students to persevere and excel in the field, despite other factors that could discourage them.
Supervised by Mici Halse and Hannah Thinyane