ITEST Alabama

Program Description

ITEST-Alabama is an NSF-funded project aimed to promote interest in computer science among high school girls and minority students attending schools in Alabama’s Black Belt areas. The program was established on the foundation of a strong partnership between Tuskegee University and Auburn University. Tuskegee University's computer science faculty provides content support, while the education faculty at Auburn University are responsible for educational research and evaluation. The program is divided into two parts: a one-month-long Summer Academy and a Fall group project. During the Summer Academy, students learn various aspects of computer science, such as software engineering, network security, and computer hardware, and also engage in coding using MIT App Inventor. Once they have acquired the basic knowledge and skills in computer science, they work on a mobile app development project in the Fall semester. The Summer Academy takes place in July at the Tuskegee University campus, while the fall project occurs online and lasts until early December. Students attending schools in Alabama's Black Belt areas who are in 9th to 11th grade and interested in computer science-related careers are eligible to apply. The program also welcomes local school teachers who are interested in supporting their students' group projects and promoting computer science in their schools.