Running head: GLOBAL ISSUES REPORT 1

Global Issues Report

Computer Science and UTEP

Hannibal Rodriguez

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

Dr. Vierra

November 13, 2019

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to create a report stating global issue relating to our major

and how it can connect to UTEP. Facing with a shortage of computer scientist isn’t just a

problem for the future, as its already an issue right now. UTEP’s diverse computer science

program will result in more students graduating in this field and being able to close that gap we

currently face as a country.

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Global Issues Report:

Computer Science and UTEP

Facing with a shortage of computer scientist isn’t just a problem for the future, as its

already an issue right now. Compared to other big techy countries like South Korea, China,

India, and Germany, the U.S. is seriously lagging behind in science, technology, engineering and

math fields. Demonstrated in figure 1, the United States faces a major lack of people studying

computer science in order to fill in jobs. Dealing with a global issue can be challenging, although

UTEP offers an outstanding computer science program which is known to be one of the nation’s

best. UTEP’s diverse computer science program will result in more students graduating in this

field and being able to close that gap we currently face as a country.

Discussions

This field requires more and more personnel day by day. Computer Science requires high

education experience. Computer Science helps predict and avoid global catastrophes. Computer

Science is in high demand and a degree will prepare you for in demand jobs. Computer Science

positively impacts every area of society as it enhances and increases the power of computers and

internet everyone has in their hands. Computer Science is a problem solving, essential skill for

life.

As a shortage of mathematics and science teachers has proceeded toward the education

field, the preparation for changing curriculum which integrates technology is in eminence.

According to Niess (2005), having a consideration of multiple domains of knowledge is required

for technology to become an integral component or tool for learning (p. 509). Science and

mathematics preservice teachers must also develop and overarching conception of their subject

matter with respect to technology and the meaning of teaching with technology (p. 510).
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Consequently, student teachers we naturally focused on their own teachings and less likely to

think about their students understanding, thinking and learning.

Until lately, computer science was largely an unknown entity in education ranging from

K-12 classes. According to Krauss and Prottsman (2016), they present computational thinking as

a set of attitudes and skills a person would need to confidently persist toward identifying, posing,

and solving problems (p. 4). All critical capabilities that are required to progress in a daily life.

The author’s point is that in today’s world there’s a lack of personnel in this field. Krauss and

Prottsman (2016) emphasized that we already have a generation of filmgoers; now we need more

producers and directors who can create the vast array of products and services the world needs

(p. 7). Accordingly, studying computer science will provide knowledge of thinking creatively in

a restrictive environment accessing the impossible to a field of hidden opportunities.

Computer scientist have the ability to play a key role in helping address societal and

environmental challenges in pursuit of a sustainable future, while also advancing computer

science as a discipline. According to Gomes, Dietterich, Barrett, Conrad, Dilkina, Ermon, Powell

(2019), computational sustainability aims to identify, formalize, and provide solutions to

computational problems concerning the balancing of environmental, economic, and societal

needs for a sustainable future (p. 57). A large group of computer researchers, collaborating with

an even larger group of domain specialist from social, environmental, and natural sciences, can

drive computational sustainability in ways that would not be possible in a smaller or less

interdisciplinary setting (p. 58) Consequently, sustainability concerns human well-being and the

protection of the planet.

Computer scientist and engineers have a huge impact on the future of the U.S., serving

government importance by shaping the growth of industry and infrastructure. According to

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Kumar and Kalil (2015), several federal agencies are committed to investing in computer science

research; addressing some of the nation’s most important challenges (p. 41). It’s observed that

the government has realized the importance and minor personnel lack in this field. Considerable

investments by major companies are transpiring in order to attract the next generation of

scientist, engineers, and entrepreneurs to advance their applications in domains such as

manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and energy (p.41). This evidence suggest that

computer science and engineering can be profoundly influenced by government service, in the

seek of superior economic prosperity, public health, environmental quality and national security.

Foreign patterns and methods of teaching may be somewhat more effective when it

comes to teaching a core subject such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and

mathematics). According to Stigler and Hiebert (2009), foreign techniques and practices are

essential for high levels of achievement as they focus in the engagement of students in active

struggle with core mathematics concepts and procedures (p. 34). Although teachers in high

achieving countries employed a variety of strategies and routines, in every case these strategies

were used to achieve a common learning experience for students (p. 34). Accordingly, in order to

improve the teaching of math in the U.S., we need to engage students in exploring mathematical

relationships and wrestling with key mathematical ideas.

Having innovations that significantly alter the way that consumers, industries, or

businesses operate uphold a significant structure towards truly reshaping the world in which we

live and work. According to Manyika and Dobbs (2013), policy makers need to prepare for

future technology by having a clear understanding of how technology might shape the global

economy and society over the coming decade (p. 2). Deciding how to invest in new forms of

education and infrastructure and figuring out how disruptive economic change will affect
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comparative advantages (p. 2). Therefore, if business and government leaders wait until these

technologies are exerting their full influence on the economy, it will be too late to capture the

benefits or react to the consequences.

Lockheed Martin has supported UTEP with supported research, infrastructure and

program development within its College of Engineering, and leading to successful collaborations

and teaming up with the universities’ students and staff. According to UC Staff (2019), UTEP

and Lockheed Martin will sign an agreement which concurs towards employing students in El

Paso. Accordingly, part of the agreement pertains that Lockheed Martin will now open a location

in El Paso near the UTEP campus where they will employ UTEP undergraduate students as

interns. Consequently, this agreement is set to seek a great potential for the UTEP interns to

make invaluable contributions to the engineering community and to the future.

UTEP tops in educating Hispanics as it is ranked the fourth highest university in the

nation. According to UTEP (2007), for the second consecutive time the university has be ranked

within the top schools in the nation as it pertains a high number of Hispanics graduating (p. 8).

The author points out that UTEP awarded 98 bachelor’s degrees in engineering and ranked third

in the world, the universities success in educating Hispanic engineers has been widely

recognized and has created mass observation by many (p. 8). Consequently, UTEP is ranked as

the nation’s No.1 graduate engineering school for Hispanics in both 2005 and 2006. Based on

this evidence, Hispanic businesses look at a variety of factors for its rankings, including the

percentage of Hispanic graduates’ students enrolled and the percentage of engineering degrees

awarded to Hispanics in 2006.

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Conclusion

UTEP’s diverse computer science program will result in more students graduating in this

field and being able to close that gap we currently face as a country. Dealing with a global issue

can be challenging, although UTEP offers an outstanding computer science program which is

known to be one of the nation’s best. Compared to other big techy countries like South Korea,

China, India, and Germany, the U.S. is seriously lagging behind in science, technology,

engineering and math fields. Facing with a shortage of computer scientist isn’t just a problem for

the future, as its already an issue right now.

GLOBAL ISSUES REPORT 8

References

GOMES, C., DIETTERICH, T., BARRETT, C., CONRAD, J., DILKINA, B., ERMON, S., . . .

POWELL, W. (2019). Computational sustainability: Computing for a better world and a

sustainable future. Communications of the ACM, 62(9), 56-65. doi:10.1145/3339399

Krauss, J., & Prottsman, K. (2016). Computational thinking and coding for every student : The

teacher's getting-started guide. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin, a Sage Publishing

Company. Retrieved from http://0-

search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat04704a&AN=nug.b333627

4&site=eds-live&scope=site

Kumar, V., & Kalil, T. A. (2015). The future of computer science and engineering is in your

hands. Communications of the ACM, 58(7), 39-41. doi:10.1145/2668022

Manyika, James. Chui, Michael. Bughin, Jacques. Dobbs, Richard. Bisson, Peter. Marrs, Alex.

(2013). Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the

global economy | McKinsey. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/business-

functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/disruptive-technologies

Niess, M. L. (2005). Preparing teachers to teach science and mathematics with technology:

Developing a technology pedagogical content knowledge. Teaching and Teacher

Education, 21(5), 509-523. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2005.03.006

STIGLER, J. W., & HIEBERT, J. (2009). Closing the teaching gap. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(3),

32. doi:10.1177/003172170909100307

UC Staff. (2019). UTEP and lockheed martin sign agreement to employ students in el paso.

Retrieved from https://www.utep.edu/newsfeed/campus/UTEP-and-Lockheed-Martin-Sign-

Agreement-to-Employ-Students-in-El-Paso.html
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UTEP. (2007, -07-01). UTEP tops in educating hispanics. Nova, , 10. Retrieved

from https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/nova/172
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Figures

Figure 1. In the United States, some of the world’s biggest tech companies lack enough people
studying computer science to fill in jobs.

Figure 2. America didn’t even make the top 10 for most STEM degrees awarded by percentage
of college graduate between 2002 and 2012.

Figure 3. The University of Texas at El Paso was the nation’s number one graduate engineering
school for Hispanics in the year 2008.