James P. Lawler

Community empowering service-learning courses through 21st century technologies

This panel will include a historical perspective of IT service-learning (SL) courses at a multi-campus university followed by specific descriptions of the challenges and rewards of designing and facilitating courses that foster civic engagement. The courses covered will include the earliest course in the SL repertoire, Computers for Human Empowerment, and a course that helps higher-functioning (less impaired) computer science high school students with disabilities in learning advanced technology skills and life planning and personal productivity skills where assistive communication devices are tailored to each student. Also included will be a discussion of Problem Salving Using LEGO Robotics in which robotics technology is being integrated into science and technology (STEM) courses at the New York School for the Deaf. Intergenerational Computing, which was showcased on CBS News recently, will be highlighted in this panel discussion.