Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 65527-65528 [2010-26917]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 205 (Monday, October 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65527-65528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26917]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment 
on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF 
will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of 
this collection for no longer than three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by December 27, 
2010 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send e-mail to 
splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through 
Friday. You may obtain a copy of the data collection instruments and 
instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Revitalizing Computing Pathways (CPATH) in 
Undergraduate Education Program Evaluation.
    OMB Number: 3145-0211.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2013.
    Title of collection: Revitalizing Computing Pathways (CPATH) in 
Undergraduate Education Program Evaluation.
    Type of request: Revised Clearance.
    Abstract: The CPATH program was established by the National Science 
Foundation's Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) 
division with a vision towards preparing a U.S. workforce with the 
computing competencies and skills imperative to the Nation's health, 
security, and prosperity in the 21st century. This workforce includes a 
cadre of computing professionals prepared to contribute to sustained 
U.S. leadership in computing in a wide range of application domains and 
career fields, and a broader professional workforce with knowledge and 
understanding of critical computing concepts, methodologies, and 
techniques. To achieve this vision, CISE/CPATH is calling for colleges 
and universities to work together and with other stakeholders 
(industry, professional societies, and other types of organizations) to 
formulate and implement plans to revitalize undergraduate computing 
education in the United States. The full engagement of faculty and 
other individuals in CISE disciplines will be critical to success. 
Successful CPATH projects will be systemic in nature, address a broad 
range of issues, and have significant potential to contribute to the 
transformation and revitalization of undergraduate computing education 
on a national scale. The qualitative data collection of this program 
evaluation will document CPATH program strategies utilized in infusing 
computational thinking across different contexts and disciplines, 
examine the development of communities of practitioners and the 
dissemination of best practices around computational thinking, and 
analyze preliminary evidence for how the CPATH program is preparing 
students for career options in the STEM workforce. Five overarching 
evaluation questions will guide this program evaluation: (1) How is the 
CPATH program infusing computational thinking into a wide range of 
disciplines serving undergraduate education? (2) What is the evidence 
that university and community college departments and faculty are 
integrating computational thinking into their courses? (3) How are 
undergraduate students benefiting from participating in CPATH projects? 
(4) What is the evidence that the CPATH program is developing 
communities of practitioners that regularly share best practices across 
different contexts and disciplinary boundaries? (5) How is the CPATH 
program promoting sustainable multi-sector partnerships that represent 
a broad range of stakeholders (e.g., industry, higher education, K12) 
and contribute to workforce development that supports continued U.S. 
leadership in innovation? Answers to these questions are currently 
obtained using mixed evaluation methods including document analyses, 
site visit interviews, and telephone interviews with selected CPATH 
grant participants including principal investigators, staff, faculty, 
administrators, students, and external partners. This revision of the 
existing data collection activities will now include new protocols for 
interviewing faculty via phone, project evaluators, as well as edits to 
the previous protocols. Participation in CPATH program evaluation 
activities is a mandatory requirement for all CPATH awardees in 
accordance with the America Competes Act, H.R. 2272, and implementing 
directives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 400.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 400 hours (400 
respondents at 1 hour per response)
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the NSF, including whether the information shall have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the

[[Page 65528]]

burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

    Dated: October 20, 2010.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2010-26917 Filed 10-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P