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The purpose of this research is to assess the impact of a “sustainability” theme in introductory Computer Science and IST courses at Penn State. This study and its materials attempts to answer the following research questions:
- Does the use of sustainability-themed projects in introductory programming courses help students gain a greater understanding of sustainability concepts, and in what ways?
- Does the use of sustainability-themed projects in introductory programming courses help students see the current and potential applications of sustainability practices in their own communities, and in what ways?
- Does the use of sustainability-themed projects in introductory programming courses help students alter their own daily practices, and in what ways?
- Does the use of sustainability-themed projects in introductory programming courses help students realize the applicability of programming for addressing contemporary, real-world problems, and in what ways?
This research is sponsored by the Penn State Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence.