Integrating Computational Science into the Undergraduate Curriculum

June 8 - 14, 2008
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
338 Johnston Hall

The Center for Computation and Technology has partnered with the Supercomputing 2008 Education program and are hosting a workshop this summer to introduce Computational Science professors and researchers to developing undergraduate curriculum in all disciplines of Computational Science. The SC08 Education program will send educators to run this workshop allowing attendees to benefit from the instructors' experiences of teaching computational methods in the undergraduate classroom.

The purpose of this workshop is to expose and inspire participants with new techniques, new curriculum and new applications to further Computational Science education. It will further efforts in advancing the computational sciences throughout the undergraduate curriculum and to bring faculty from different disciplines together so that they can learn how to bring computational research into their undergraduate classroom.

Who is the intended audience? The SC Education Program summer workshops are open to undergraduate and graduate educators in all fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, humanities, arts and social sciences, especially those from minority-serving institutions. The summer workshops are also open to high school teachers collaborating with college faculty.

REGISTRATION (still accepting registrations)

REGISTER AT: Integrating Computational Science into the Undergraduate Curriculum Workshop.

There is a registration fee of $150 to attend the workshop and will be required to cover their own travel expenses. The fee includes the workshop itself, rooms in the LSU dorms, most meals and other costs associated with the workshop. You will be in a dorm room alone unless you request otherwise.

Louisiana faculty/instructors may be able to receive a reduced costs or no cost registration. If interested, please contact kjones@lsu.edu.

PROGRAM

This workshop is designed for faculty from a broad range of disciplines: science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and humanities, arts, and social sciences. The primary audience is faculty looking to develop curriculum materials which use modeling, simulation, and/or computational methods for their undergraduate or 9-12 classes. For K-12 educators with less experience in computational methods, a fellow K-12 educator will be present to help you get started.

Participants are expected to bring specific ideas for curriculum modules they would like to develop to the workshop. The workshop format is very open, the instructional team works one-on-one and in small groups with faculty as they research and develop their materials. At the conclusion of the workshop each participant will give a presentation based on their new curriculum module.

The instructional team is comfortable with a broad range of modeling and simulation techniques, e.g. cellular automota, dynamic systems, agents, and Monte Carlo methods. We also support a number of software packages in this context, e.g. NetLogo, AgentSheets, and Octave. An introduction to using large scale computational resources can be provided as well, with credentials and support for continued use of the computational resources after the workshop for participants and their students.

Daily sessions run from 8a-5p with mid-morning, lunch, and mid-afternoon breaks (with Wednesday afternoon off). Evening labs are optional but encouraged. Participants will be expected to complete pre-workshop, daily, and post-workshop surveys. These are short and designed to help us improve our content and delivery methods.

Click here for time schedule.

HOUSING-- **NOTE DORM CHANGE**

Reservations for dorm rooms in Jackson Hall-Pentagon Area can be submitted when you register. Unless otherwise requested, participants will be in a single room. Special needs/requests can be emailed to: kjones@lsu.edu.

For your stay in the LSU dorms you will be provided a linen package which includes:

• (2) Sheets; (1) pillowcase
• (2) towels per day; (1) washcloth per day
• (1) blanket
• (1) pillow

***Please report to Broussard Hall-Pentagon Area to check-in for the dorm. Check in time will begin at Noon on June 8. Check out time will begin at 10:30 AM on June 14th.***

A map of campus can be viewed at: http://www.lsu.edu/campus/

PARKING

We will provide LSU visitor parking permits for the week of the workshop. These residential/commuter permits will allow parking for attendees in the lots labeled "residential/Zone 3" as well as the lots labeled "commuter/Zone 1". (You will receive your parking permit Sunday evening during the dinner/welcome, so feel free to park on Sunday near the dorm for offload/checkin for lodging.)  Note:  Monday-Friday campus is restricted and you will not be able to drive thru the inner-campus (roads marked in RED on the map).  Also towing and ticketing does occur Monday-Friday so make sure you are parked legally in the correct zone/lot.  If you have any questions regarding parking, please call 578-5030 or visit the Visitor Center located at the corner of Highland Road and Dalrymple.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Click here for driving directions.

MEALS

Dinners will be provided on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Each participant will be issued a meal card-- "TIGER GEAUX CARD"-- with an $85 allowance for breakfast and lunch ($17/day for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). Breakfast will be provided on Saturday morning before dorm checkout.

TIGER GEAUX CARD information: Locations where your Tiger Card can be used on campus include: eCommons, McDonalds, P.J.'s Coffee, Tiger Lair, Side Pocket (all at the LSU Union); Faculty Club Restaurant (lunches); Subway (Foster Hall); Pierre's Landing; and the Mini Mart. Click here for a map of locations. Cards MUST be turned in Saturday morning at breakfast.

LOCAL INFORMATION:

The closest airport is the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. American Airlines-American Eagle, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines-Delta Connections, Frontier Airlines and Northwest Airlines provide service to Baton Rouge. Another option for flights is the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, which is approximately 75 miles from the LSU campus. Taxi service will run approximately $23 from the airport to LSU campus. Pre-arranged airport shuttle can be scheduled by calling Reliant Travel 225-336-4814 (www.relianttransportation.com/) and will run approximately $35 one way.

SUGGESTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING:

1) Take a walking tour of campus (tour booklet included in registration materials)
2) Visit downtown Baton Rouge where you will find the Baton Rouge Old State Capitol, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Shaw Center for the Arts, and LSU Museum of Art.
3) 101 Things To Do In and Around Baton Rouge (click here)
4) Baton Rouge City of Landmarks walking tour (click here)
5) Schedule a tour with Alligator Bayou Tours (click here)
6) Visit one or more Historic Plantation Homes (brochure included with registration materials)
7) Dine at Boutin’s Restaurant for a Cajun Music and Dining Experience (click here)
8) Try your luck--Casino Rouge or Belle of Baton Rouge
9) Drive into New Orleans and visit the French Quarter (approx. 90 miles)

SPONSORS:

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on the LSU campus or the Center for Computation and Technology please visit www.cct.lsu.edu or email Kathy Traxler.

Baton Rouge Visitors Bureau click here!