Morgan State Academy of Computing
In the Fall of 2007, Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland) established an Academy in Computing, which introduces pre-college students to real-world problems and challenges that can be address through high-performance computing tools and techniques. This ten-week program hosted an initial cohort of 50 students on Saturdays, giving them exposure to computer-related applications relating to current events. Example topic areas include weather prediction, global climate change, homeland security, space technology, and genetic manipulation.
In addition to introducing students to the core principals of teamwork and personal time management, this program helps students develop leadership skills and critical thinking practices through hands-on experiences and related fields trips. Participants learn about the history of computing and the key milestones in the evolution of computing. As part of this program, all students are given the opportunity to assemble computers that they will use as they participate in future phases of the Academy. These future phases will introduce programming, networking, concepts of distributed computing, and progressive complexities of computing through modeling and simulation.
The Academy will periodically assess its performance through surveys and inventories. These assessments will ensure that the program is reaching students from a variety of backgrounds (including those from predominately minority and under-served urban communities, and that, as a result of the program, students have an increased knowledge of and appreciation for high performance computing.
