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Issues and Opinions---IT Careers Camp: An Early Intervention Strategy to Increase IS Enrollments

Published: 01 March 2010 Publication History
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  • Abstract

    This paper reports on a specific promotional initiative designed to spur enrollment in IT-related fields---an IT Careers Camp aimed at high school students. The camp was different from most prior computer camps in that it was not aimed at building skills such as programming or Web development. Rather, it was specifically designed to convince participants that (1) job prospects in the field are strong, and (2) IT/IS work is interesting and creative. To this end, the camp was designed in partnership with a number of corporations, and included as a central element a series of experiential opportunities for participants. Each day of the camp featured a visit to a corporation where the students took part in a hands-on activity that involved solving a business problem with IT. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations indicate that the camp was very successful in changing students' perceptions about the nature of IT work and the IT job market. We believe the camp can be a useful tool to create a pipeline of well-informed students interested in IT careers. We present here details of the design and execution of the camp in the hope that others may wish to replicate our efforts.

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    • (2019)Sustaining the IT WorkforceProceedings of the 2019 on Computers and People Research Conference10.1145/3322385.3322394(20-27)Online publication date: 12-Jun-2019
    • (2013)Organizational design of innovative educationProceedings of the 8th international conference on Design Science at the Intersection of Physical and Virtual Design10.1007/978-3-642-38827-9_15(212-227)Online publication date: 11-Jun-2013
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        cover image Information Systems Research
        Information Systems Research  Volume 21, Issue 1
        March 2010
        205 pages

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        INFORMS

        Linthicum, MD, United States

        Publication History

        Published: 01 March 2010
        Received: 19 February 2008

        Author Tags

        1. IS enrollments
        2. summer camps

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        View all
        • (2023)Barriers to a cybersecurity careerComputers and Security10.1016/j.cose.2023.103316132:COnline publication date: 1-Sep-2023
        • (2019)Sustaining the IT WorkforceProceedings of the 2019 on Computers and People Research Conference10.1145/3322385.3322394(20-27)Online publication date: 12-Jun-2019
        • (2013)Organizational design of innovative educationProceedings of the 8th international conference on Design Science at the Intersection of Physical and Virtual Design10.1007/978-3-642-38827-9_15(212-227)Online publication date: 11-Jun-2013
        • (2010)Contributions to IS education from leading research journalsACM Inroads10.1145/1869746.18697501:4(12-13)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2010

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