SIGCSE Because We Teach...

Volunteer Opportunities within SIGCSE

SIGCSE, the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education, is the major international organization for computing educators. SIGCSE provides both technical information and a supportive community to its members. Computing educators seem to appreciate recent efforts to expand program and diversify; and in recent years, SIGCSE has grown to become ACM's sixth largest SIG.

SIGCSE's successes depend primarily on the insight, energy, and commitment of its members. The following listing suggests several ways that SIGCSE members can participate in various activities of the organization. More information on each of these opportunities may be found through the organization's Web site at http://www.sigcse.org

• Attending conferences: SIGCSE sponsors two conferences each year:

  • The annual SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education is held in February or March in the United States.
  • The annual summer Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE) is held in June or July in Europe.

• Reviewing papers and other submissions for conferences: Papers, panels, and other submissions to SIGCSE conferences undergo an extensive reviewing process.

  • In the past, SIGCSE Symposia and ITiCSE Conferences have maintained separate reviewer databases. Leaders for the 2005 conferences are discussing the merging of these databases.
  • Generally, SIGCSE members are asked to volunteer to review (through an on-line form) each summer. See the home pages for the conferences for details.

• Participating in a SIGCSE Committee: SIGCSE's Committee Initiative encourages all SIGCSE members to participate in substantive discussions on areas of community interest, with the goals of investigating topics in depth and culminating with substantive reports. Topics for Committees are proposed and refined by the membership, through discussions on a special-purpose listserv: SIGCSE-committees@acm.org. Based on community interest, the SIGCSE Board launch specific Committees, each with a specific charge, and each led by 2-4 appointed facilitators.

  • SIGCSE currently has two established committees:
    • Committee on the Implementation of a Discrete Mathematics Course
      • Facilitators: William Marion, Valparaiso University and Douglas Baldwin, SUNY at Geneseo
      • Stated Goals/Focus of the Committee
    • Committee on Expanding the Women-in-Computing Community
      • Facilitators: Gloria Childress Townsend, DePauw University and Paula Gabbert, Furman University
      • Stated Goals/Focus of the Committee
  • SIGCSE members can propose additional committees. Requirements:
    • Clarification of a focus
    • Determination of a committee charge, including a proposed product (e.g., a report).
    • Members interested in participating

    For more information, see the SIGCSE Committee link at http://www.sigcse.org

• Creating a local SIGCSE Chapter: Local or regional associations provide a mechanism for collaboration and cooperation within your locale. A SIGCSE Chapter can provide a structure to facilitate this exchange.

  • For more information, see the SIGCSE Committee link at http://www.sigcse.org
  • This link provides sample chapter bylaws, guidance for getting started, and a sample petition to form a chapter.

• Submitting a Special Project Grant Proposal: SIGCSE now funds a limited number of Special Projects to help its members investigate and introduce new ideas in the learning and teaching of computing. SIGCSE invites its members to apply for funds for this new endeavor. The maximum funding is $5,000 USD per proposal and the level of funding is subject to the quality of proposals received and the availability of funds targeted for such projects.

  • A listing of Special Project Awards is available on-line
  • Application guidelines and details are available through the Special Projects link at http://www.sigcse.org

• Working on a Symposium or Conference Committee: SIGCSE conferences happen because volunteers handle numerous responsibilities and details.

  • Some common tasks: conference co-chair, program co-chair, panels, special sessions, workshops, posters, birds-of-a-feather, proceedings, treasurer, registration, local arrangements, student volunteers/activities, evaluation, roommate matching, database administration, tips and techniques, demonstrations, etc.
  • Your SIGCSE Board selects experienced leaders as conference and program co-chairs. All other positions are selected by those co-chairs on the basis of known willingness to serve. Typically, committee membership includes a mix of experienced and new people.
  • A sign up sheet is available at SIGCSE 2004. You also can send e-mail to the SIGCSE Chair at chair@sigcse.org. Currently, committees are in place for 2005. If you are interested in helping with either SIGCSE 2006 or ITiCSE 2006, you also could contact the co-chairs for those conferences. (See information in the SIGCSE 2004 Proceedings.)

• Contribute materials to SIGCSE Education Links: SIGCSE Education Links is a collection of resources maintained and shared by SIGCSE members to support computer science education. You can share your resources and borrow from others. Help make this site successful by sharing your resources and encouraging other to do so as well.

  • The site provides courseware, lecture notes, assignments, syllabi, tutorials, and other teaching aids.
  • Materials are indexed in various ways
  • Details for submitting materials are available through the Education Links at http://www.sigcse.org

• Share ideas on the SIGCSE listservs:

  • SIGCSE.ANNOUNCE@acm.org is used only for important announcements of interest to all SIGCSE members. This list is fully moderated and has extremely low traffic (approximately one message per month). Browse or search the sigcse-announce archive for previous postings.
  • SIGCSE.MEMBERS@acm.org is fully moderated and has moderate traffic (averages one or two per day). Browse or search the sigcse-members archive for previous postings.
  • To send to SIGCSE.MEMBERS, send mail to sigcse-members@acm.org
  • To be added to or removed from the list: contact infodir_SIGCSE@acm.org

• Help organize SIGCSE functions or represent SIGCSE: SIGCSE sponsors regular activities, such as the Doctoral Consortium. SIGCSE also is asked from time to time to suggest candidates to serve in various capacities:

  • SIGCSE has a representative on the IFIP Education Committee
  • SIGCSE is asked for suggestions for the GRE CS Committee of the College Board.

  If you have interests or know of opportunities for dialog, please let your SIGCSE Officers know.

• Write contributions to the SIGCSE Bulletin inroads: In addition to SIGCSE's conferences, inroads publishes two issues each year of contributed articles and papers.

This document is available on the World Wide Web as

http://www.grinnell.edu/~sigcse/volunteering.shtml

created February 25, 2004 last revised February 29, 2004 by Henry M. Walker