Session T2G 978-1-4244-4714-5/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE October 18 - 21, 2009, San Antonio, TX 39 th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference T2G-1 Exploring Computer Science through Autonomous Robotics Zachary Henkel, Peggy Doerschuk, and Judith Mann zmhenkel@tamu.edu, peggy.doerschuk@lamar.edu, judith.mann@lamar.edu Abstract - Declining student populations in the Computer Science field coupled with a growing demand creates the need for higher attraction rates. We examine new techniques for exposing high school students to the Computer Science field through the use of a Java-based autonomous robotics curriculum. This curriculum, designed by researchers to function as a means for conveying basic concepts during a limited engagement time, raises students with no prior knowledge of Computer Science to a level of comfort with both basic and advanced concepts within five sessions. Emphasis is placed on object-oriented design, behavior based programming, and autonomous operation of robots. The curriculum, structured into knowledge blocks which build on each other, provides students with clear goals and achievements during each session. Students work extensively with controlling robotic motors, sensors, and output devices through their own programs. Ultimately, students are asked to combine all of their learned knowledge by programming their robot to utilize behavior-based techniques to autonomously navigate a maze. Both quantitative and qualitative results have indicated significant knowledge gain, continued interest in the Computer Science field, and a great deal of enthusiasm from students participating in a program which utilized this curriculum. Index Terms – autonomous robotics, Computer Science attraction and recruiting, high school robotics, Java robots curriculum INTRODUCTION As society continues on a path which increasingly depends upon software development and maintenance, a declining population of undergraduate Computer Science enrollments sets the stage for an inevitable complication. The Computer Research Association reports a significant decline in interest in Computer Science as a major among incoming freshmen [1] beginning roughly in 2000. Furthermore, data from the 2006 - 2007 year shows a continued decline of 20 percent less than the previous year in Bachelor’s degree production [2]. This decline has been widely attributed to the quick collapse of a large portion of computer related jobs during the “dot-com bubble burst”. However, from 2006 to 2016 the demand for Computer Scientists is expected to grow by 37 percent, described as a field “growing much faster than average” by the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics [3]. In an attempt to secure a sufficient amount of qualified Computer Scientists to satisfy this demand, Computer Science departments must focus their attention toward attracting and retaining students. MOTIVATION One of the primary issues relating to the lack of Computer Science majors manifests itself early on in the life of prospective students: students are uniformed about and not attracted to the field. Throughout primary and secondary education, Computer Science concepts are usually completely absent. A Program Summary report concerning the College Board’s Advanced Placement Examinations for high school students indicates that only 20,532 students participated in the two Computer Science Exams in 2008. This number ranks in the lower half of all tests offered by the College Board AP Program, along with subjects related to specific non-English languages and Studio Art [4]. In addition to its low rank among other AP subjects, reports also indicate a decline in the number of students participating in exams in recent years [5]. This is alarming, as most other examinations offered have rarely seen declines in participation. Because of this absence of Computer Science influence in early education, students are less likely to be familiar with the field and its applications. Additionally, low retention rates have been attributed to lack of computer experience prior to college years, with studies indicating students with no prior programming experience are at a disadvantage in earning a Computer Science degree [6, 7]. Computer Science departments must find a methodology for reaching out to high school students that can quickly offer an explanation of the field and its applications. BACKGROUND As object-oriented languages gain continued predominance in Computer Science programs, the “object-first” approach of teaching becomes increasingly important [9]. Our Java- based robotics curriculum employs this strategy while also harnessing the popularity of robots among students. Other programs similar to ours focus more on competitive hardware design [10,12] or span multiple weeks [11]. Our work is closest to that of the Colorado School of Mines [14] but differs from theirs and others [13] in that our focus is based on object-oriented programming. All operations completed by students are a direct result of an