National science foundation advanced technological education projects and centers of excellence for information technology education

摘要

This paper gives an overview of initiatives for information technology (IT) education undertaken by projects and centers of excellence for Advanced Technological Education (ATE) with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). While these centers have a common goal to advance IT education regionally and nationally, they differ in the means of doing so. Several aspects of these projects and centers are highlighted, including challenges and opportunities that are beneficial to other ATE projects and centers. Current issues pertinent to IT curriculum development, including curriculum guidelines and accreditation of IT programs, are presented and discussed. The paper concludes with recommendations and future steps that are of import to IT educators at large. This paper will be presented at SIGITE 2005 in conjunction with a panel discussion involving principal investigators of current NSF ATE projects and centers for IT education.