SIGCSE 2008 Poster Proposal Computer Science Workshops from the Villanova Magic School Science Camp Melissa Corning, Thomas Way, Mary-Angela Papalaskari, and Najib Nadi Department of Computing Sciences Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085 magicschool@villanova.edu Proposer Melissa Corning Department of Computing Sciences Villanova University 800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085 Voice: (610) 519-5033 Fax: (610) 519-7889 Email: melissa.corning@villanova.edu Web: magicschool.villanova.edu Statement of Topic Computer Science Workshops from the Villanova Magic School Science Camp Significance and Relevance of the Topic This poster describes Computer Science workshops that have been developed and used over three years of a successful service learning summer program that combines elements of computer science, and other sciences, within a theatre-based context. The program is called the “Science and Theatre Magic (STM) Program,” and was created in the Department of Computing Sciences at Villanova University, and involves an interdisciplinary team of faculty from across the science and engineering disciplines, as well as undergraduate majors in Computer Science. [3,6,9] The goal of the program is to increase interest and participation in the sciences (including computer science) at all educational levels, leveraging the positive allure of theatre and magical illusion to create an interactive and enthusiastic science experience for all involved. A major objective is to bring this positive experience in the sciences to inner-city children who might not otherwise envision science as a possible career path, the program is broad in its educational-level scope. Program Design Each iteration of the program revolves around the development by teen participants, under the mentorship of a multidisciplinary team of faculty and undergraduate students, of a Harry Potter- esque [7] magic school at which science is taught to inner-city children in an interactive and magical way, with the goal of creating a positive draw to the sciences (including computer science). With a foundation of several computer science elements, the program involves extensive collaboration among science and theatre faculty and a number of outside organizations. The STM Program makes use of active-learning and inquiry- inspired teaching, starting with providing the raw science, theatre and magic information to the teen participants through a series of brief lectures and hands-on workshops. Under faculty guidance, teens then build their own magically-themed science lessons, as part of an overarching magic school theme, to perform for and instruct visiting elementary-aged youth who attend one of a sequence of single day programs. This approach of balancing science content with a compelling and enjoyable presentation [2], making use of older students to teach younger ones [1], all under the thoughtful guidance of knowledgeable mentors [4] is supported by research. The educational benefits we have seen in three years of holding this program have been overwhelmingly positive for all involved. Faculty who never had an opportunity for multidisciplinary collaboration and teaching now see the clear relevance of the approach and are actively giving of their time and talents. High school students who come to the program with a narrow focus on a specific science or an interest only in theatre, find themselves unexpectedly excited about disciplines and ideas they never thought of before. The youth who attend the single day programs come not really knowing what to expect, and leave with an increased interest in, and reduced uncertainty about, science, as our follow-up studies have indicated [5]. The combination of service-learning, theatre techniques, magical themes have proved to be a very effective technique. Perhaps the real magic of the success of our program is captured by the well- known quote from anthropologist Arthur C. Clarke, who states that “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Our program reverse Clarke’s logic to support the notion that any sufficiently understood magic reveals the underlying science. Importance of Computer Science The use of computer science activities and related technology continue to be foundational to the success of the project. Of all the sciences, computer science is out front in everyday experience, with constant reminders of how reliant on it society has become. Thus, computer science was incorporated as the core science of the STM Program, providing all participants with ample learning opportunities. By gaining a deeper appreciation and understanding of computer science topics, it was hoped that the high school and elementary school students would have a foundation of this crucial science on which to build interests in other science subjects.