How Investing in K-12 Computer Science Teacher Education Can Expand STEM Research and Workforce Capabilities

Distinguished scholar, educator and career bioinformatics and database researcher
Katherine G. Herbert-Berger, Ph.D., will deliver the annual Charles H. Franke Memorial
Lecture during Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Petersheim Day on Friday, April 25, a highlight of the 29th annual Petersheim Academic Exposition:
Share, Honor, Unite. Herbert-Berger, professor of computer science at Montclair State
University, will address the topic, “Communication and the Scientific Workforce: How
Investing in K-12 Computer Science Teacher Education Expands STEM Research and Industry
Capabilities.”

The Franke Memorial Lecture is hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Computer
Science of the College of Arts and Sciences at 1:15 p.m. in room 109, Arts and Sciences Hall. Those unable to attend in person
can participate by livestream. The program will be followed by the induction ceremony
for the New Jersey Delta Chapter, Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society. Afterwards,
the John J. Saccoman Graduation Awards will be presented by John Saccoman, Ph.D., mathematics program advisor and chair, Department of Mathematics and Computer
Science. The concluding event will feature mathematics, computer science and data
science students’ poster presentations from 2:45 to 4 p.m. in room 110, Arts and Sciences
Hall.

Thomas J. Marlowe, Ph.D., professor emeritus of mathematics and computer science and a Petersheim Planning
Committee member, explained the significance of the day.

Marlowe shared:

The annual Charles H. Franke Memorial Lecture commemorates our former chair, Charles
(Charlie) Franke, who is remembered as an excellent teacher, researcher, administrator,
mentor and friend of the department and many of its faculty. During his tenure as
chair, the department greatly expanded its research presence and developed innovative
courses, both for majors and non-majors. As importantly, it was on his watch that
the department incorporated computer science in its mission, and he both served as
the first computer science coordinator and was the first of the faculty to return
for an additional graduate degree in the field. Charlie also enjoyed fishing and was
a serious chess player and a tournament bridge player ranked as an expert.

Initiated by former chair Tuck Washburn, the Franke Lecture became a key event in
the department’s Petersheim Exposition program, complementing the student poster session,
induction of students into the mathematics honor society Pi Mu Epsilon and presentation
of the John J. Saccoman Graduation Awards in mathematics and in computer science,
which was established in memory of former chair John J. Saccoman, a cherished colleague
of Franke.

Marlowe reminisced:

The first Franke Lecture was given by Dr. Ron Infante, a close friend and former student
of Charlie’s and a former faculty member in the department, on Dr. Franke’s research,
speaking — as Charlie always taught — entirely without notes. Over the years, the
Franke Lecture has featured distinguished scholars, both mathematicians such as John
Conway, Ron Graham, Janos Pach and computer scientists like Shriram Krishnamurti and
Elaine Weyuker. I was privileged to give last year’s lecture on the four rules of
software engineering. The lectures have always presented significant mathematical,
computing or pedagogical content in a way designed to appeal to faculty and students
alike, often with a touch of humor, vivid examples or artful presentation. Ron Graham’s
lecture on the mathematics of juggling balls at different frequencies, accompanied
by actual juggling, was a stellar example. This year’s lecture will be given by Professor
Katherine G. Herbert-Berger of Montclair State University, who is increasingly recognized
as an important figure in K-12 teacher professional development in computing.

Pivoting to a ‘New Normal’ Almost Daily
“We are currently seeing an unprecedented time in education and industry where we
are pivoting to the ‘new normal’ almost daily,” said Herbert-Berger, who explained,
“According to Pew Research, while the public generally has a positive view of science
and STEM fields, we are seeing shifts in public opinion concerning these topics. Most
Americans, while respecting STEM, see it as inaccessible for many reasons — cost,
confidence in the subject, educational opportunities, the conceptual gap and credentials
needed to participate in the field.”

She shared that at the same time, according to the CSTA, Code.org and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, New Jersey is seeing an upsurge in opportunities
for people with computing skills. On average, over the past three years, New Jersey
has had 17,000 computing jobs available per month. “When we consider that the state
only generates approximately 3,000 students in computing-related fields (and rising)
per year, the New Jersey education community needs to consider how to help New Jerseyans
access these opportunities. Concurrently, computer science as a field is often categorized
by the public as the public expecting computer scientists to exhibit behaviors that
the general public considers ‘geeky’ or ‘nerdy.’ While the field has made efforts
to be more welcoming to all, education models persist in using classical techniques
to teach computer science. These models are no longer sufficient, especially in our
post-COVID, social-media-centered world where students’ fundamental learning capabilities
have changed,” shared Herbert-Berger.

Herbert-Berger noted:

Integrative, interdisciplinary approaches help students understand what is the basics
of computing and how computing can help them explore the world; these techniques can
help demystify STEM and help people access these lucrative careers. Essential facets
include computational thinking, communication, teamwork and other soft skills, knowledge
of applications and modern approaches, including artificial intelligence and data
science, and a basic understanding of ethical issues, complementing experience with
design, coding and robotics, as well as artificial intelligence and data science.
If we are to develop the state’s computing capabilities and workforce, the most important
task will be to reach students, teachers and the public where their learning is at
— hopefully with a sense of fun, interest, curiosity and engagement.

The presentation will look at these issues and how the Montclair Hub and DATA3 programs
have challenged models for computer science education. It will include audience participation
in activities to challenge understanding of computing and interdisciplinary research.

Global Expert Anthony Scriffignano To Attend

Among those who plan to hear Herbert-Berger’s keynote address in-person is internationally
recognized data scientist Anthony Scriffignano, Ph.D., who previously taught in the
University’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences. He has an extensive
background in linguistics and advanced algorithms, leveraging that background as primary
inventor on multiple patents worldwide.

Among Scriffignano’s credentials over 40 years in the field is distinguished fellow
and member of the Loomis Innovation Council of The Stimson Center, a nonprofit nonpartisan
Washington, D.C. think tank that aims to enhance international peace and security
through analysis and outreach. He has also served as a member of the OECD Network
of Experts and AI working group on implementing trustworthy AI, focused on benefiting
people on the planet, and served as a commissioner for the Atlantic Council, most
recently contributing to a report on the geopolitical impacts of new technology and
data.

Scriffignano noted,

It has been my great good fortune to work with Dr. Katherine Herbert-Berger, who is
without doubt a superb example of the true scholar practitioner. She continues to
do important, fundamental work in advancing the knowledge of evolving capabilities
in data science, artificial intelligence and related fields. She is a uniting force
for industry experts and educators at all levels. It is my great pleasure to see her
sharing knowledge and experience with colleagues at Seton Hall, which has always maintained
a spirit of bringing thought leadership to a broad spectrum of students.

Distinguished Educator, Researcher, Author, Advocate
Herbert-Berger received her Bachelor of Science in mathematics from St. Peter’s College
and her Master of Science and Ph.D. in computer science and data mining for bioinformatics
from New Jersey Institute of Technology. A member of the Montclair State faculty since
2004, she serves as director of the New Jersey Department of Education Northern New
Jersey Montclair State University Computer Science Education Hub and associate director
of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Center for Science Teaching and Learning Professional
Resources in Science and Mathematics. Previously, she created and led the development
of Montclair’s nationally ranked Master of Science in Applied Information Technology
and served as computing and technical lead for the New Jersey Health and Human Services-funded
New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence.

Her career interests involve interdisciplinary research, computer science pedagogy
and community outreach. She also has ongoing research in bioinformatics, databases,
accessibility, neurodiversity and space weather with the Earthcube group. Through
the hub and other grants from the National Science Foundation, the State of New Jersey
and various institutions, she has worked directly with designing computer science
lessons and curricula with more than 500 K-12 teachers across more than 100 Northern
New Jersey school districts who then, in turn, teach more than 120,000 northern New
Jersey students through holding more than 150 professional development and professional
learning community events. She has produced more than 60 conference and journal publications,
has mentored more than 50 students in graduate and undergraduate theses or capstone
projects, participated in multiple grant panels and program committees, and supervised
collaborative education or internship programs. She continues to maintain scholarly
relationships with many of her former mentees.

Besides the hub, another key project Herbert-Berger initiated is the National Science
Foundation Research Education for Teachers DATA3 Program, which brings middle and
high school teachers and community college faculty together for an interdisciplinary
program spanning data science, computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics
and space weather. The program has included industry speakers, visits to research
labs (including the NJIT Earthcube lab) and classrooms. A total of 15 teachers have
published 18 conference papers in the past two years (plus posters by their own students),
developed multiple teaching resources and participated in multiple professional development
and learning events with other teachers, as well as training teachers on the work
and resources they have developed.

Herbert-Berger’s career philosophy centers around her collaborative approach. Through
her grants, scholarship, curriculum and course development, she has worked at Montclair
with other STEM departments, the College for Education and Engaged Learning and multiple
offices and special programs. Her research collaborators have included faculty from
NJIT, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, William Paterson University, St.
Peter’s University, Adelphi University and Drew University. She welcomes new collaborators
and is always open to exploring new projects.

Categories:
Education, Science and Technology