Using Open Source Technologies in the Classroom to Assist with STEM Growth in Urban Schools

Dr. Maurice Dawson1, Dr. Imad Al Saeed2, & Ms. Jorja Wright3

1Alabama A&M University (United States), 2Colorado Technical University (United States), & 3Florida Institute of Technology (United States)

Abstract

As more urban schools continue to lose critical funding to stay alive it is essential that the students continue to remain competitive in the global market. The graduation rates of urban schools in many areas are lower than the national average. And the overall rankings globally are not in. As part of the lower graduation rates in urban schools can be attributed to issues in the household other issues are prevalent. When students of these urban schools graduate it can be assumed that their technology competitiveness in the national and global market is not completive. It is essential to get these students able to compete in needed fields of engineering and computer science as our nation is actively working hard to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. As the United States of America (USA) is continually seeking to maintain a strong hold in technology innovation and an effective cyber infrastructure it is clear that without the appropriate personnel to fill slots we will not achieve our goals. Our plan is to use innovative methods to prepare a generation that has been under represented with the appropriate skillets to meet an ever growing demand. With technology costs also continuously rising Open Source Software (OSS) is a solution that allows these students to maximize their technology learning experience.

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Contact Information

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Department of Management and MarketingCollege of Business and Public Affairs

P.O. Box 429Normal, Alabama 35762

256.372.4801www.aamu.edu

Point of Contact:

Dr. Maurice Dawson Jr.Maurice.dawson@aamu.edu

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Cutting Edge Technologies in Higher Education Series

Maurice Eugene Dawson, Imad Al Saeed (2012), Use of Open Source Software and Virtualization in Academia to Enhance Higher Education Everywhere, in Charles Wankel, Patrick Blessinger (ed.) Increasing Student Engagement and Retention Using Immersive Interfaces: Virtual Worlds, Gaming, and Simulation (Cutting-edge Technologies in Higher Education, Volume 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.283-313

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